#77. Hearing scheduled in Roman Polanski sex case

04th February, 2009
2 hrs 6 mins ago

Director Roman Polanski reacts during a news conference to present his musical 'Tanz der Vampire' ('Dance of the Vampires') in Oberhausen September 29, 2008.

LOS ANGELES – A hearing for Roman Polanski's bid to have a 31-year-old sex case dismissed has been rescheduled for Feb. 17.

The date was announced Tuesday, a day after Polanski's lawyer lost a bid to disqualify all Los Angeles Superior Court judges from considering the long dormant case against the director.

Polanski's attorney, Chad Hummel, claimed the entire Los Angeles Superior Court bench is biased against the director. The California 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected the motion to disqualify the judges. It also lifted a stay that had halted court proceedings in the case.

Polanski pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles in 1978 but fled to France before he could be sentenced.