HONOLULU -- The Army on Monday announced that a military judge approved moving Lt. Ahren Watada's court-martial from July to October.

Both the defense and the prosecution asked for the delay, according to Army officials.

Watada was charged with missing a troop movement and conduct unbecoming of an officer. The artillery officer is the first objector since 1965 to be prosecuted by the military.

The 28-year-old from Honolulu refused to deploy to Iraq in June 2006 with his Stryker Brigade Combat Team from Fort Lewis, Wash.

He said he is not opposed to all war and would be willing to serve in Afghanistan. He said the Army refused his request for a reassignment and would not let him resign his commission.

A military judge declared a mistrial in the case in February.

As part of a deal to reduce the counts against him, Watada did not dispute that he refused the deployment order and that he made anti-war statements. However, because Watada still wanted to argue he was entitled to disobey, the military judge ruled the prior deal invalid. The judge offered the Army a mistrial, and they took it.

The new trial was moved from July 23 to Oct. 9.