A judge yet again is poised to decide whether to cut short Drew Peterson's murder trial.

Wednesday will mark the third time in as many weeks that Judge Edward Burmila has giving serious consideration to declaring a mistrial after a blunder by state prosecutors.

Burmila seemed unmoved Tuesday when an attorney for the state repeatedly apologized after she broached a subject she was told not to mention to jurors.

Peterson has pleaded not guilty to murdering his third wife, Kathleen Savio, in 2004. He was charged after his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, disappeared in 2007.

Prosecutor Kathleen Patton asked a witness in front of jurors about whether Savio had sought an order of protection against Peterson two hours after Burmila specifically told her not to bring up the subject.