A New York state judge heard arguments on Thursday.

The judge will decide about Attorney General Letitia James.

Should she stay on a criminal case?

The case is about rape allegations at Cornell University.

A man accused in the case wants her removed.

His lawyers say James wrote social media posts.

She wrote them before she took the case.

The posts show she had already judged the matter.

They show she believed the woman’s allegations.

James had described the woman’s alleged ordeal as “horrific and unacceptable.”

She called her a “survivor.”

State lawyers argue that James is the best person for the job.

James is a Democrat.

They say she has a record with sensitive cases in the national spotlight.

They also say the governor has wide power.

The governor can appoint a special prosecutor.

The former Cornell student is called Jane Doe in court papers.

She filed a lawsuit in September.

She alleges several men raped her at a fraternity party in October 2024.

She said some of the men pressured her to use ketamine and marijuana.

She said she drank alcohol.

The alcohol left her too intoxicated to consent.

Judge James R. Farrell pressed state lawyers on Thursday.

He asked about the governor’s decision.

He asked about what James had written on social media.

“Is that a problem?” Farrell asked.

Assistant Attorney General Kaitlin Vigars said “there has to be actual prejudice.”

She said that is needed to remove James.

The judge asked if Vigars agreed.

He asked if it was not proper for a prosecutor to make those statements.

She did not answer directly.

He pressed again: “You wouldn’t agree with me?”

The judge did not issue a ruling.

He gave the accused man’s lawyers until Nov. 5.

They must address one question.

Why had the six other men named in the lawsuit not joined the challenge against James?

James wrote about the case on X and Facebook on Sept. 28.

She linked to a news article about the lawsuit.

On Oct. 1, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed an executive order.

The order took the case from the county district attorney.

The district attorney declined to bring charges in 2024.

The order named James as special prosecutor.