Cosby wants judge ousted over wife’s sex-assault advocacy
PHILADELPHIA — Bill Cosby’s lawyers on Thursday asked the judge in his upcoming sexual assault retrial to step aside, arguing the judge could be seen as biased because his wife is a social worker who has described herself as an “activist and advocate for assault victims.”
Cosby’s lawyers contend some of Judge Steven O’Neill’s recent pretrial rulings could give the appearance he’s being influenced by his wife’s work, particularly his decision last week to let prosecutors have up to five additional accusers testify when he allowed just one at the first trial.
O’Neill did not immediately rule on the request. He and his wife, Deborah, did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
Prosecutors called the recusal request “a thinly veiled attempt to delay and pollute the jury pool.”