In the run-up to the trial of former executives of Dewey & LeBoeuf, a Manhattan judge ruled Tuesday that the defense could argue that, if not for the departure of partners and publicity of the prosecutors' investigation, Dewey would have been able to “right itself and pay its debt.”

Jury selection will begin April 27 in the case against Dewey chairman Steven Davis, executive director Stephen DiCarmine and CFO Joel Sanders, with prosecutors alleging they concocted and oversaw a massive fraud at the firm.

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Peirce Moser told Acting Justice Robert Stolz at a Tuesday hearing that the prosecution was dropping three counts of falsifying business records, adding that the trio still face 100 counts.