VW Diesel Judge Breyer Declines to Step Away From Opt-Outs’ Case

Judge Charles R. Breyer’s role in shaping and approving a $10 billion settlement of consumers’ claims against Volkswagen AG over diesel emissions software in federal court in California doesn’t create the appearance of bias in an upcoming trial involving 10 car owners who opted out of that deal, the judge said Friday.

Nor do his statements or rulings indicate he favors VW over the plaintiffs, said Breyer, of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

In 2015, Volkswagen admitted to rigging diesel vehicles to cheat on U.S. emissions tests. Litigation over VW’s use of “defeat devices” in ...