Polanski lawyers accuse prosecutor of playing politics

By Eriq Gardner

In case the California Superior Court didn't get the memo, Roman Polanski's lawyers sent a reminder yesterday that they believe justice will be served by sentencing the fugitive filmmaker in absentia.

In a court brief filed yesterday, Polanski's lawyers suggest that prosecutors are playing politics by intentionally misleading Swiss officials with a false record of the case in order to secure his extradition illegally.

"Politics seems to be interfering with the just administration of the law," wrote Chad Hummel, the Manatt lawyer representing Polanski, perhaps implying that a recent move by Los Angeles county district attorney Steve Cooley to run for California attorney general might have something to do with his opposition to sentencing Polanski in absentia.

A California appeals court suggested that path last month in rejecting a motion to dismiss the case. Hummel highlights the 70-page decision to support this course of action. To paint the prosecutors as being unreasonable, Hummel contends that Cooley and federal authorities submitted an extradition request to the Swiss government based on false statements made in an affidavit by deputy district attorney David Walgren.

The Superior Court will consider the next step at a hearing on Friday.