The Los Angeles Superior Court has postponed its formal reading of charges of UCLA chemistry Professor Patrick Harran until March 7.

Harran was on Thursday morning to hear the formal reading, or arraignment, of felony charges filed against him and the UC Board of Regents for a fatal 2008 laboratory fire on campus.

The delay was granted at the request of Harran and the UC Board of Regents, said Thomas O’Brien, Harran’s attorney. Both O’Brien and UCLA spokesman Steve Ritea declined to comment as to why the request was made.

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office filed felony charges against Harran and the UC Regents on Dec. 27, 2011.

UCLA staff research assistant Sheri Sangji incurred third-degree burns in the December 2008 lab fire, which led to her death in January 2009. Harran was Sangji’s lab supervisor.

Harran and the regents have been charged with three counts each of willfully violating occupational health and safety standards. If convicted, Harran faces up to four and a half years in prison and the university could be fined up to $4.5 million.

Harran will not plead guilty, O’Brien said.

Compiled by Nicole Chiang, Bruin contributor.