Thornburgh, a long time federal prosecutor, former governor and a major player in the republican party, filed the motion on Wednesday.

Thornburgh will ask the U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit to boot the judge for alleged outright bias towards Wecht, hostility toward defense counsel and threats of contempt to chill the defense from speaking publicly.

The motion also pointed to other charges, like allegations the judge has had private meetings with Mary Beth Buchanan's prosecution team.

The meetings allegedly resulted in the personnel file sealing of lead FBI investigator Bradley Orsini.

The defense claimed Orsini's multiple reprimand background should be exposed to the jury.

The U.S. attorney's office had no comment as of Wednesday night.

Previous Stories: July 21, 2006: No Plans For Wecht Judge To Step Down June 23, 2006: Change In Course For Cyril Wecht Case June 16, 2006: Wecht's Attorneys Ask Judge To Step Down June 8, 2006: Entertainment Icons Take Center Stage In Wecht Investigation June 7, 2006: Wecht Attorneys Claim U.S. Attorney Engaged In Similar Conduct June 2, 2006: Cyril Wecht Faces Charges From IRS May 31, 2006: Judge Rules Case Against Wecht Will Go On May 30, 2006: Judge Could Dismiss Case Against Cyril Wecht May 3, 2006: IRS Agents Investigate Cyril Wecht April 11, 2006: Cyril Wecht Released From Hospital April 10, 2006: Former Allegheny County Coroner Hospitalized March 17, 2006: 2 Lawyers For Cyril Wecht Withdrawn From Case February 17, 2006: Former Coroner Charged With Intimidating Witnesses February 10, 2006: Cyril Wecht Pleads Not Guilty January 20, 2006: Wecht Indicted On Federal Charges December 29, 2005: Wecht Appointed As Interim Medical Examiner June 16, 2005: Probe Of Coroner's Practices Continues June 15, 2005: Feds Probe Allegheny County Coroner's Practices May 9, 2005: Target 11 Investigates County Coroner Cyril Wecht April 8, 2005: Feds Search Allegheny County Coroner Records February 14, 2005: Is Wecht Using County Resources For Private Enterprises?