LOS ANGELES : Denny Trial Delayed; Bid to Remove Judge Continues

The trial of three defendants in the Reginald O. Denny beating case was pushed back Tuesday to July 26 even as a defense attorney announced that he will continue his efforts to remove the judge.

Last week, Orange County Superior Court Judge Theodore Millard denied a defense motion to disqualify Judge John W. Ouderkirk. Defense attorneys had argued that Ouderkirk has a conflict of interest stemming from his engagement to former Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner’s onetime executive assistant. Attorney James R. Gillen, who represents defendant Antoine Miller, said he will appeal Millard’s decision.

The trial, which had been put on hold while the disqualification motion was being decided, was returned to Ouderkirk’s courtroom Tuesday. Ouderkirk rescheduled several pretrial hearings, including a key one alleging discriminatory prosecution.