A December 8 trial date has already been set.
Thursday's hearing will focus on pretrial defense motions such as jury selection and change of venue.
Police say Drew Peterson is a person of interest in the disappearance of his wife, Stacy Peterson.
Peterson to appear in court on gun charges
Peterson has been charged with two counts of unlawful use of a weapon for possessing a rifle shorter than the legal length and for attempting to transfer it to his son, Stephen.
