Case Title: In re Disqualification of Niehaus

Citation: 2003-Ohio-5488

Docket Number: 02AP114

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 2003-03-07T00:00:00Z

Document:
[Cite as In re Disqualification of Niehaus, 100 Ohio St.3d 1240, 2003-Ohio-5488.] 
 
 
 
 
Opinion in Chambers, per Moyer, C.J. 
 
IN RE DISQUALIFICATION OF NIEHAUS. 
IN RE BURGJOHANN. 
[Cite as In re Disqualification of Niehaus, 100 Ohio St.3d 1240, 2003-Ohio-
5488.] 
Judges — Affidavit of disqualification — Unsupported allegation of “familial 
relationship” does not warrant disqualification — That one of the parties 
is related to an employee of the court is not, by itself, sufficient grounds 
for disqualification. 
(No. 02-AP-114 — Decided March 7, 2003.) 
ON AFFIDAVIT OF DISQUALIFICATION in Butler County Common Pleas Court, 
Juvenile Division, case No. JV99-11-3934. 
__________________ 
 
MOYER, C.J. 
{¶1} 
This affidavit of disqualification was filed by Mark Burgjohann, 
father of the minor child in the above-captioned matter, seeking the 
disqualification of Judge David J. Niehaus from further proceedings in the 
juvenile court regarding the above-captioned case. 
{¶2} 
Affiant believes that Judge Niehaus “is potentially biased and 
prejudiced” and should be disqualified because of “the familial relationship 
between the mother of the child and the chief magistrate of the juvenile court.” 
{¶3} 
The statutory right to seek disqualification of a judge is an 
extraordinary remedy.  In re Disqualification of Hunter (1988), 36 Ohio St.3d 
607, 522 N.E.2d 461. A judge is presumed to follow the law and not to be biased, 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
2 
and the appearance of bias or prejudice must be compelling to overcome these 
presumptions. In re Disqualification of Olivito (1994), 74 Ohio St.3d 1261, 657 
N.E.2d 1361. An affidavit of disqualification must allege with specificity the 
purported grounds for disqualification, including specific facts that demonstrate 
bias or prejudice on the part of the judge. In re Disqualification of Walker (1988), 
36 Ohio St.3d 606, 522 N.E.2d 460. Here, however, the affiant has not stated the 
nature of the alleged “familial relationship.”  Further, the fact that one of the 
parties is related to an employee of the court is not, by itself, sufficient grounds 
for disqualification of the judge. 
{¶4} 
For these reasons, the affidavit of disqualification is found not well 
taken and is denied.  The case may proceed before Judge Niehaus. 
__________________