Mr Quattrone could face up to 25 years in prison

John Keker, Mr Quattrone's lawyer, complained that Judge Richard Owen puffed out his cheeks and interrupted during cross-examinations.

These actions, Mr Keker argued, could influence the jury in their decision.

Mr Quattrone, previously of Wall Street firm CSFB, is accused of blocking a probe into allocation of shares.

Head-on

His original trial collapsed last October when the jury could not agree on a verdict.

It was during this earlier court appearance that Judge Owen and Mr Keker first clashed.

While Judge Owen dismissed the latest allegations as absurd, he admitted he was trying to hurry the trial along.

"You remark about my interruptions only because I am trying to take the trial forward fairly and expeditiously," he said.

Charges

Mr Quattrone is alleged to have asked staff to wipe e-mails about how they allocated shares in hot technology flotations.

The firm, along with many others, was accused of offering potential clients the chance to take a slice of the initial offering - which would soar in value once the shares started trading - in exchange for more of their business.

Prosecutors say that when he encouraged the clean-out, he already knew the investigation was under way.

He has strenuously denied the charges.

If found guilty, Mr Quattrone, who made as much as $120m a year at CSFB, could face a maximum penalty of 25 years in jail.

He resigned from CSFB in March 2003 after being suspended.