Case Title: In re Disqualification of Cooperrider

Citation: 2001-Ohio-4106

Docket Number: 2001AP073

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 2001-09-04T00:00:00Z

Document:
[Cite as In re Disqualification of Cooperrider, 94 Ohio St.3d 1233, 2001-Ohio-4106.] 
 
 
IN RE DISQUALIFICATION OF COOPERRIDER. 
IN RE GUARDIANSHIP OF DOWNEY. (TWO CASES.) 
[Cite as In re Disqualification of Cooperrider (2001), 94 Ohio St.3d 1233.] 
Judges — Affidavit of disqualification — Affidavit not timely filed. 
(No. 01-AP-073 — Decided September 4, 2001.) 
ON AFFIDAVIT OF DISQUALIFICATION in Perry County Probate/Juvenile Court case 
Nos. 012008 and 012009. 
__________________ 
 
MOYER, C.J.  This affidavit of disqualification filed by Brent A. Stubbins 
and John R. Allen, co-counsel for Mark Downey, seeks the disqualification of 
Judge Luann Cooperrider from the above-captioned cases, In re Guardianship of 
E. Richard Downey and In re Guardianship of H. Jane Downey. 
 
R.C. 2701.03(B) requires that an affidavit of disqualification be filed at 
least seven days before the next scheduled hearing in the underlying case.  The 
statutory filing requirement will be set aside only when compliance with the 
statute is impossible, such as where the case is scheduled or assigned to a judge or 
the alleged bias or prejudice occurs fewer than seven days before the scheduled 
hearing date.  In re Disqualification of Leskovyansky (1999), 88 Ohio St.3d 1210, 
723 N.E.2d 1099. 
 
Here, affiants filed the affidavit of disqualification on August 17, 2001, 
and a hearing in this matter was scheduled for August 20, 2001.  Affiants suggest 
that the late filing is justified because they were not advised until August 16, 
2001, that Judge Cooperrider would preside over the hearing.  However, given the 
fact that affiants filed a notice of appearance on August 3, 2001, that the August 
20 hearing had been scheduled since July 16, 2001, and that Judge Cooperrider is 
the only judge of the Probate Division in Perry County, affiants had sufficient 
 
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opportunity to seek her disqualification in a timely manner.  Affiants were not 
correct in assuming that Judge Cooperrider would recuse herself from this case in 
view of her prior recusal from cases involving affiant Allen. 
 
For these reasons, the affidavit of disqualification is stricken as not in 
compliance with R.C. 2701.03(B).  The cases shall proceed before Judge 
Cooperrider. 
__________________