WOODLAND, Calif. -- The case of a man accused of slaying a Yolo County deputy is at a standstill after a judge refused to excuse himself Thursday.

Judge David Rosenburg gave a nine-page response to a motion filed by the lawyers of Marco Antonio Topete, 35, who has been charged with one felony count of murder with special circumstances since the victim was an officer.

"I have no bias or personal prejudice against the defendant," Rosenburg said. "I do not know the victims."

The defense asked Rosenburg and the entire panel of Yolo County judges to recuse themselves from the case on June 27.

The defense alleged that Rosenberg made himself a material witness in the case by conducting the internal investigation into the original arraignment, and that he violated his own gag order by issuing a news release on the investigation. The defense also alleged collusion between judges, staff, and the Yolo County Sheriff's Department -- including changing court calendar dates to allow more deputies to attend the original arraignment.

Rosenburg said Thursday that he played no role in the sheriff department's actions on June 18.

Topete's arraignment is set to resume July 9, and the court has no power to act until an issue of disqualification is determined.