A request from O.J. Simpson's last remaining co-defendant to delay the Sept. 8 start of the pair's armed robbery and kidnapping trial was rejected Thursday by a divided Nevada Supreme Court panel.

In a 2-1 decision, Justices Bill Maupin and Ron Parraguirre refused to stay Simpson and Clarence "C.J." Stewart's upcoming trial, and rejected Stewart's petition for a separate trial.

The brief majority order said justices "are not satisfied that this court's intervention by way of extraordinary writ is warranted at this time."

Justice Michael Cherry dissented, saying he would have granted the stay. He called for an answer from prosecutors to the petition for separate trials.

Stewart's attorney, Robert Lucherini, did not return calls seeking comment on whether he would ask the high court to reconsider.

Lucherini appealed to the Supreme Court after Clark County District Judge Jackie Glass refused to halt proceedings. Glass delayed the start of the trial once in April and vowed not to postpone it again.