SAN FRANCISCO — Lawyers representing an anti-abortion activist have lost their attempt to disqualify U.S. District Judge William Orrick III from handling a case where he barred the release of hidden-camera videos recorded at two National Abortion Federation annual conferences.
Lawyers for David Daleiden had asked earlier this month that Orrick be disqualified from handling the case. They cited Orrick’s time as a board member at a nonprofit health center that for a time housed a Planned Parenthood affiliate, and posts by the judge’s wife on social media that were supportive of abortion rights groups. Daleiden’s lawyers also claimed Orrick made comments that indicated he was prejudiced against Daleiden during a telephone hearing in May. But on Monday, Orrick’s Northern District colleague, Judge James Donato, found that his Orrick need not step aside.
