BALTIMORE –  The first court hearing is set to begin since six Baltimore police officers were criminally charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died a week after suffering a critical spinal injury in custody.

Protesters are planning to gather Wednesday outside the Baltimore Circuit Court, where prosecutors and defense attorneys will present arguments on three key issues. Those issues include whether State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby should recuse herself, whether the officers should be tried together or separately, and whether the charges should be dismissed.

The officers face charges that range from second-degree assault, a misdemeanor, to second-degree "depraved-heart" murder.

Gray's death led to protests in Baltimore, and a riot that prompted the National Guard to intervene and the city's mayor to declare a city-wide curfew.

A handful of protesters demonstrated on a corner near Baltimore Circuit Court more than 90 minutes before the hearing was set to begin. They carried yellow signs with slogans including, "Stop racism now" and "Indict, convict, jail." A banner said "Justice 4 Freddie Carlos Gray."