Still suffering for his art, director Roman Polanski’s plea to have his 30-year old sexual misconduct case dropped was denied yesterday by Los Angeles Superior Court. Polanski’s appeal relied upon new evidence revealed in the documentary “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired,“ which suggested that presiding Judge Lawrence Rittenband may have unlawfully discussed the case during legal proceedings. Polanski fled to Paris before sentencing in 1978 and has not been permitted to re-enter the U.S., even when he won a best director Oscar for “The Pianist.” It seems the Los Angeles legal system has little sympathy for a man who admitted guilt and then evaded punishment for three decades. On the other hand, come on Polanski! Paris ain’t so bad!
Roman Polanski’s attorneys have lost their bid to disqualify all Los Angeles Superior Court judges from considering their request to dismiss the 31-year-old sex case against the fugitive director.
The California 2nd District Court of Appeal issued the decision Monday, and also lifted a stay on all proceedings.
Polanski’s attorney, Chad Hummel, claimed the entire Los Angeles Superior Court bench is biased against the director. Prosecutors countered that the claim was frivolous.
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.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.