Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski has lost his latest bid to have a California court dismiss his 1977 sex case, with a judge rejecting a motion for a new hearing.

A Superior Court order states Polanski's claims of judicial misconduct can't be addressed because he remains a fugitive outside the United States, after pleading guilty to unlawful sex with a minor almost 40 years ago.

The 81-year-old's lawyers have sought a public evidentiary hearing for the case, claiming a judge who handled the matter in 2008 and 2009 failed to properly consider a dismissal motion due to pressure from a presiding judge.