Student in Brown Rape Suit Seeks Judge's Recusal

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A federal judge is set to decide whether to recuse himself from a lawsuit brought by a former Brown University student who says he was falsely accused of rape.

U.S. District Judge Ronald Lagueux (Lah-GUEH') is scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday from a lawyer for William McCormick III. The lawyer says there's a conflict of interest because Lagueux was represented in judicial proceedings in 1988 by Joseph Cavanagh, who is now the attorney for McCormick's accuser and her father.

McCormick is suing because he says he was falsely accused of rape and unfairly pressured into leaving the school.

In January, Lagueux refused to recuse himself, but allowed McCormick's lawyer file a written motion.