The judge’s wife, Deborah O’Neill, is a psychotherapist at the University of Pennsylvania and co-ordinates a team that cares and advocates for student sexual assault victims. Cosby’s lawyers said that last year she gave money to a group linked to an organization that is planning a protest outside the retrial. As Cosby’s lawyers are battling with O’Neill, they also are counting on him to make critical rulings to bolster their defence that Constand is a money-grubbing liar. Pennsylvania’s Superior Court on Wednesday rejected an appeal over O’Neill decision not to let Cosby’s lawyers immediately challenge his ruling in a higher court. The AP does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand and Dickinson have done.

Source: National Post March 28, 2018 21:33 UTC