Roman Polanski - Polanski's Appeal In Court Today

A three-judge California appeals court will decide whether or not filmmaker ROMAN POLANSKI will have to return to the U.S. to face 32-year-old charges he sexually assaulted a minor.

The Rosemary's Baby director is under house arrest in Switzerland following his detention in September (09).

His attorneys are attempting to get the case against Polanski dismissed.

The moviemaker has been living in exile in Europe since fleeing to France on the eve of sentencing in 1978 after he pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl at a Hollywood party in 1977.

The Court of Appeals will meet with Polanski's lawyers on Thursday (10Dec09) to decide if the director will have to appear in person to fight for his freedom.