RENO, Nev. -- A judge has ordered Darren Mack's case moved back to Reno. And he has refused a defense motion to postpone the Jan. 17th sentencing as Mack tries to withdraw his guilty pleas in the killing of his wife and shooting of a judge.

District Judge Douglas Herndon said it makes more sense -- both financially and based on local community interest -- to reverse the change of venue that sent last month's trial to Las Vegas and return the high profile case to its original jurisdiction in Washoe County.

Mack's new lawyer, William Routsis, asked Monday in Reno that the Jan. 17th sentencing be vacated. He said he'll need more time to prepare for it if they fail to persuade Herndon during a hearing scheduled earlier that week to allow Mack to withdraw his pleas because he was confused and under duress at the time his previous defense team negotiated the deal.

But Herndon agreed with special prosecutor Christopher Lalli, who said the families of Mack's victims want to move on with their lives.