LOS ANGELES?A lawyer for Roman Polanski has filed an 11th-hour appeal to stop a court hearing on a request to dismiss a 31-year-old rape case against the director.

Attorney Chad Hummel's petition to California's 2nd District Court of Appeal asks for review of his claim that the Los Angeles Superior Court is biased against Polanski. He argues that its 600 members should be disqualified from hearing the case. The Superior Court's presiding judge rejected the original motion.

The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. Prosecutors say the 75-year-old Polanski must appear in person to have his request heard. He does not plan to attend.

Polanski fled to France after pleading guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1977.