Case Title: In re Disqualification of Synenberg

Citation: 2013-Ohio-5916

Docket Number: 13-AP-118

State: ohio

Court: Ohio Supreme Court

Date: 2013-12-06T00:00:00Z

Document:
[Cite as In re Disqualification of Synenberg, ___ Ohio St.3d ___, 2013-Ohio-5916.] 
 
 
IN RE DISQUALIFICATION OF SYNENBERG. 
STATE v. UNTIED. 
[Cite as In re Disqualification of Synenberg, ___ Ohio St.3d ___,  
2013-Ohio-5916.] 
Judges—Affidavit of disqualification—R.C. 2701.03—Affiant bears the burden of 
showing compliance with statutory filing deadline—Affidavit denied. 
(No. 13-AP-118—Decided December 6, 2013.) 
ON AFFIDAVIT OF DISQUALIFICATION in Cuyahoga County Court of Common 
Pleas Case No. CR 13-575483. 
____________________ 
O’CONNOR, C.J. 
{¶ 1} Defendant David M. Untied has filed an affidavit with the clerk of 
this court under R.C. 2701.03 seeking to disqualify Judge Joan Synenberg from 
presiding over any further proceedings in case No. CR13-575483, now pending 
for trial in the Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County. 
{¶ 2} Untied alleges that he has made eight “costly two hour one way 
trips” to Cleveland for scheduled hearings and conferences before Judge 
Synenberg, only to discover upon his arrival that the hearing was continued or 
that the judge refused to see him.  In addition, Untied claims that Judge 
Synenberg has falsified the court’s journal and has refused his request to represent 
himself.  According to Untied, the judge’s actions demonstrate her bias and 
prejudice against him. 
{¶ 3} Untied, however, filed his affidavit on Friday, December 6, 2013, 
and the trial in the underlying case is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10, 2013.  
Under R.C. 2701.03(B), an affidavit of disqualification must be filed “not less 
than seven calendar days before the day on which the next hearing in the 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
2 
 
proceeding is scheduled.”  This statutory deadline may be set aside only “when 
compliance with the provision is impossible,” such as when the alleged bias or 
prejudice occurs fewer than seven days before the hearing date or the case is 
scheduled or assigned to a judge within seven days of the next hearing.  In re 
Disqualification of Leskovyansky, 88 Ohio St.3d 1210, 723 N.E.2d 1099 (1999).  
The affiant bears the burden of showing that he or she has complied with the 
statutory filing deadline.  In re Disqualification of Eyster, 105 Ohio St.3d 1246, 
2004-Ohio-7350, 826 N.E.2d 304, ¶ 3. 
{¶ 4} Untied claims that he was prevented from filing his affidavit before 
the seven-day deadline because of the financial hardship caused by Judge 
Synenberg’s conduct.  In addition, he alleges that he attempted to file the affidavit 
in person on the seventh day before trial, but his car broke down on the way to 
Columbus.  Finally, Untied states that after his car problems, he had to prepare a 
new affidavit because he had not initially included a certificate of service, as 
required by R.C. 2701.03(B). 
{¶ 5} On this record, Untied has not set forth a sufficient basis for 
excusing his failure to comply with the seven-day requirement in R.C. 
2701.03(B).  Accordingly, his affidavit of disqualification is dismissed as 
untimely.  The case may proceed before Judge Synenberg. 
________________________