Trial date for John Edwards tentatively set for October

From Bill Mears, CNN Supreme Court Producer

John Edwards, shown outside court in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in June, denies he broke the law.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

NEW: Edwards attended the court session along with his attorneys
He has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and campaign law violations
If convicted on all counts, Edwards could face up to 30 years in prison
He is a former U.S. senator and two-time presidential candidate

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Read more about the case from CNN affiliate News 14 Carolina.

(CNN) -- The criminal conspiracy trial of former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is tentatively scheduled to begin in October, U.S. District Judge Norwood Carlton Tilley Jr. said Thursday.

Edwards, a former U.S. senator and two-time contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, pleaded not guilty in June to conspiracy and campaign law violations.

His plea came shortly after a federal grand jury indicted him on six counts, including conspiracy, issuing false statements and violating campaign contribution laws.

He attended the Thursday court session along with his attorneys, according to a federal court source. CNN affiliate News 14 Carolina showed video of Edwards walking into the courthouse in Greensboro, North Carolina.

A grand jury has been investigating whether money given to support Edwards' mistress, Rielle Hunter, by benefactors of Edwards should have been considered campaign donations, a contention Edwards' team has disputed.

"There's no question that I've done wrong," Edwards told reporters outside federal court in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, last month. "But I did not break the law and I never, ever thought I was breaking the law."

If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1.5 million.