Could the Bill Cosby Trial Leave Montgomery County? Hearing Date Set To Consider Request

A hearing date has been set to consider a request by Bill Cosby's legal team to move the trial out of Montgomery County, according to court documents. Cosby's lawyers have repeatedly argued that their client will not receive a fair trial in Montgomery County due to media coverage and Cosby's involvement in the 2015 District Attorney's race between Bruce Castor and Kevin Steele.

Judge Steven T. O'Neil scheduled the hearing for Feb. 27. It marks the next scheduled appearance for the former comedian in court.

Lawyers cite numerous local and national media publications which they allege have smeared Cosby, 79, who faces charges of felony indecent assault of a former friend and Temple University employee, Andrea Constand. The incidents allegedly occurred inside of Cosby's Cheltenham Township home in 2004.

"It is difficult to conceive of a case in recent history that has generated more widespread, inflammatory and sustained media coverage than the current case against Mr. Cosby," the motion, issued late in December, reads. "Branded variously a monster, sociopath, and sexual predator, everyone from the current District Attorney of Montgomery County to President Obama has publicly weighed in on the allegations against Mr. Cosby."

Cosby was most recently in court on Dec. 14 as a judge weighed whether or not to allow the testimony of 13 of his other accusers to be used against him.

>>Bill Cosby Charged: 5 Things You Might Not Know

Cosby continues to deny all allegations of abuse.

The trial is officially set for June 5, 2017, although the court has said that date could be pushed back due to the schedules of attorneys in the case.

Image courtesy Montgomery County District Attorney's Office