The Region - News from Dec. 6, 1985

San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock’s request that the trial judge be disqualified from ruling on whether his felony conviction should be reversed because of jury-tampering allegations was rejected by the state Supreme Court. Superior Court Judge William L. Todd Jr. can now schedule a hearing on Hedgecock’s motion for a third trial. The first trial ended in a hung jury. If Todd denies Hedgecock’s request, he will set a sentencing hearing, at which time the Republican mayor, who faces a prison term, would be forced to resign from office. Hedgecock, 39, was convicted Oct. 9 of conspiracy and perjury involving illegal contributions to his 1983 campaign. His attorneys had argued that Todd should be disqualified, because the jury-tampering allegations involve a bailiff who works under him. Two jurors allege that the bailiff, in violation of court rules, frequently talked with jurors about the case and the progress of their deliberations. The 10 other jurors have denied those charges.