BNP Paribas Says Judge’s Sept. 11 Remarks Biased Oil Money Trial

An attorney for BNP Paribas SA accused a Manhattan federal judge of prejudicing a jury by memorializing the Sept. 11 terrorist attack before beginning a trial over whether BNP helped generate overseas oil revenue that funded mass violence in Sudan.

A sharp exchange between US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein of the Southern District of New York and BNP attorney Barry Berke of Gibson Dunn ended with the judge rejecting the bank’s motion for a mistrial. Hellerstein said there was “nothing objectionable” about his comments on the attack.

The exchange occurred after opening arguments of a trial against BNP by ...