Case Title: In re Disqualification of Celebrezze

Citation: 2004-Ohio-7360

Docket Number: 04AP079

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 2004-08-09T00:00:00Z

Document:
[Cite as In re Disqualification of Celebrezze, 105 Ohio St.3d 1241, 2004-Ohio-7360.] 
 
 
IN RE DISQUALIFICATION OF CELEBREZZE. 
O’MALLEY v. O’MALLEY. 
[Cite as In re Disqualification of Celebrezze, 105 Ohio St.3d 1241, 
2004-Ohio-7360.] 
Judges — Affidavit of disqualification — Disqualification granted, when. 
(No. 04-AP-079 — Decided August 9, 2004.) 
ON AFFIDAVIT OF DISQUALIFICATION in Cuyahoga County Court of Common 
Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, case No. DR-04-299141. 
____________________ 
 
MOYER, C.J. 
{¶1} 
Attorney Laurence A. Turbow — counsel for the plaintiff — has 
filed an affidavit with the Clerk of this court under R.C. 2701.03 seeking the 
disqualification of Judge James P. Celebrezze from acting on any further 
proceedings in case No. DR-04-299141 in the Court of Common Pleas of 
Cuyahoga County, Domestic Relations Division. 
{¶2} 
Affiant alleges that no current or retired judge in Cuyahoga County 
should be assigned to hear the parties’ divorce case because the defendant in the 
case is a county officeholder who has significant personal and professional 
connections to many judges in the county. 
{¶3} 
Judge Celebrezze has responded to the affidavit, and he states that 
he is prepared to address the case fairly and impartially.  He has not run for public 
office at the same time as defendant Patrick J. O’Malley and indicates that he has 
not received any election-related assistance from O’Malley or from persons who 
have worked in O’Malley’s office. 
{¶4} 
Even so, I conclude that Judge Celebrezze and the other judges in 
Cuyahoga County should be disqualified from participation in this case.  Though 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
2 
none of Judge Celebrezze’s words or actions suggest that he is biased or 
prejudiced, this is a case in which his removal is necessary “to avoid even an 
appearance of bias, prejudice, or impropriety, and to ensure the parties, their 
counsel, and the public the unquestioned neutrality of an impartial judge.”  In re 
Disqualification of Floyd, 101 Ohio St.3d 1215, 2003-Ohio-7354, 803 N.E.2d 
816, ¶ 10.  As this court first said more than seven decades ago, “it is of vital 
importance that the litigant believe that he will have a fair trial.”  State ex rel. 
Turner v. Marshall (1931), 123 Ohio St. 586, 587, 176 N.E. 454.  The 
participation in this case by any Cuyahoga County judge might reasonably cause 
the parties and the public to question the fairness of the proceedings.  To allay any 
concerns on that issue, I will appoint a visiting judge from outside Cuyahoga 
County to hear the case. 
{¶5} 
For the reasons stated above, the affidavit of disqualification is 
granted.  I will address in a separate entry the appointment of a visiting judge 
from outside Cuyahoga County to preside over any further proceedings in the 
case. 
____________________