The Californian Supreme Court has refused to hear a case brought forward by Phil Spector in which the legendary producer was trying to have our old friend Judge Larry Paul Fidler disqualified from presiding over his retrial for the alleged murder of actress Lana Clarkson.
Spector claimed that Fidler, who oversaw his first trial - which, as much previously reported, ended in a mistrial after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict - was biased against him, and that that had affected his case at the first court hearing. He had asked the Californian Supreme Court to remove the judge from the retrial, due to take place this Autumn, but said Court has refused even to hear his case.
A notice on the Supreme Court website said simply "petition for review denied". Fidler has denied the bias allegations since they were first made earlier this year and signed a declaration in which he stated he was not biased towards either party in the case.
The Supreme Court ruling means the last potential hurdle that could delay a retrial is now down, meaning Spector should be back in court as scheduled on 29 Sep. A pre-trial hearing is expected on 29 Jul.
As much much previously reported, Spector is accused of shooting dead actress Lana Clarkson at his Beverly Hills home on 3 Feb 2003. Spector claims she shot herself.