Bill Cosby's latest sexual assault trial is set to begin soon, and the comedian's lawyers have asked the case's judge, Steven O'Neill to step aside, arguing that he is biased, CNN reported.

O'Neill's wife, Deborah O'Neill, works for the Sexual Trauma Treatment Outreach and Prevention team at the University of Pennsylvania, and thus works with survivors of sexual assault daily.

Cosby's attorneys argued that O'Neill should step down from the case because of his wife's, "statements, positions, opinions and actions with respect to the topic of sexual assault, along with her relationship with various activist groups."

O'Neill, however, has refused to step aside.

"It's difficult to have her accomplishments trivialized in a partisan motion," O'Neill said, "It's a difficult thing when parties include to bring the families of a jurist, into a proceeding," he added.

O'Neill said Cosby's team waited too long to request a recusal and that they knew of his wife's work for over a year. 

"She is a strong and independent person. She holds absolutely no interest in the case … beyond the interest of any person with a strong view of the issues that impact this nation," O'Neill said.

Cosby faces charges over claims he drugged and sexually assaulted Andrea Constand, a former Temple University athletics administrator, in his home in 2004. Multiple women have spoken out about Cosby since the news broke over a year ago. The next step in his case is jury selection which is set to happen Monday; opening arguments will shortly follow. 

O'Neill made it a point to say his wife has no interest or influence in the case. 

"I am my own individual and I make the decisions," he said. "What we do not share are unified views of social, legal and political issues,"  He ended. "They do not influence me one iota and is no consequence."