PHILADELPHIA (PA)
Philadelphia Inquirer
By John P. Martin
Inquirer Staff Writer
The judge in the child-endangerment trial of a Philadelphia cleric Wednesday denied defense lawyers’ request that she withdraw from the case, saying they took a comment about the prevalence of child sex-abuse in the Catholic Church “completely out of context” to stir controversy.
“Other than the statement that has been distorted and taken out of context, the defense has not and cannot identify a single instance during these lengthy proceedings where I have been other than balanced, fair, and impartial,” Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina said.
Sarmina’s ruling came a week after lawyers for Msgr. William J. Lynn asked her to recuse herself, citing a remark she made during a pretrial conference.
During that Jan. 31 courtroom session to discuss a jury questionnaire, Sarmina rejected a question proposed by Lynn’s lawyers that would have asked prospective jurors if they believed child-sex abuse was a “widespread” problem in the church.
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