Next Hearing Date Set In Bill Cosby Case

Norristown, PA -- The next hearing date in the ongoing Bill Cosby case has been set for July 7 at 1 p.m. in Norristown, according to court documents. 

Cosby will be tried for felony indecent assault and related charges connected to the 2005 allegations made by Temple University employee Andrea Constand.

The former comedian has already waived his appearance at his formal arraignment, which had been set for July 20. 

Cosby's lawyers are in the midst of trying, yet again, to get his case thrown out of court, this time because Constand herself was not present to deliver testimony during a May 24 preliminary hearing.

Instead, police read Constand's testimony, which detailed her allegations of Cosby's abuse. Cosby's lawyers say this means the case should be thrown out.

A formal trial date still has not been set, according to Montgomery County Court News, although a pretrial conference will take place on September 6. 

At the conclusion of a two-day hearing in Februrary, Judge Steven T. O’Neill had tossed aside Bill Cosby’s request to dismiss the charges on the basis he had an immunity deal with the former district attorney.

That hearing was to determine whether or not charges against Cosby could move forward. Testimony centered around former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor’s claims that his alleged non-prosecution agreement with Cosby was binding.

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Cosby was charged in December in connection with a 2004 assault in Cheltenham Township.

The Cosby team's most recent appeals to Judge O'Neill's decision were aimed at preventing the criminal case from moving forward. Both appeals were rejected, Montgomery County DA Kevin Steele said.

"We did not believe that the defense had a right to appeal at this stage, and we are gratified that the Court came to the same conclusion," said Steele. "The effect of both of these orders is that we can now hold a preliminary hearing. We are ready for that hearing and look forward to the Court setting a date so we can present our case."

Over 50 women have accused Cosby of indecent assault and related crimes, but Constand's case is the first to be brought this far along in the legal process.

Cosby continues to deny all allegations of abuse.