Roman Polanski Loses Bid to Have Judges Recused

(CN) - A California appeals court on Monday denied Roman Polanski's request to recuse the entire Los Angeles County Court system from hearing his request to dismiss a 30-year-old conviction for having sex with a minor. The 2nd District Court of Appeal offered no explanation in its one-page order, but upheld a ruling that Polanski must argue his case before Los Angeles Superior Court.

Polanski pleaded guilty in 1978 to having sex with a 13-year-old girl, but fled to France before he was sentenced. He is a French citizen and cannot be extradited.

Polanski, 75, claims the judge in that case was improperly coached by a deputy district attorney. The judge is dead.

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