Title: In re Disqualification of Spon

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

[Cite as In re Disqualification of Spon, 94 Ohio St.3d 1222, 2001-Ohio-4100.] 
 
 
IN RE DISQUALIFICATION OF SPON. 
IN RE SUBICH ET AL. 
[Cite as In re Disqualification of Spon (2001), 94 Ohio St.3d 1222.] 
Judges — Affidavit of disqualification — Judge not disqualified after conversing 
with father of juvenile litigants when father initiated the telephone 
conversation and judge appropriately limited the substance of the 
conversation. 
(No. 01-AP-010 — Decided February 2, 2001.) 
ON AFFIDAVIT OF DISQUALIFICATION in Richland County Juvenile Court case 
Nos. 0038882, 0038883, and 0039293. 
__________________ 
 
MOYER, C.J. This affidavit of disqualification filed by Matthew D. 
Gramley and Charles D. Lynch  seeks the disqualification of Judge Ronald Spon 
from further proceedings regarding the above-referenced case, In re Joshua and 
Aaron Subich. 
 
Affiants seek the disqualification of Judge Spon based on a July 2000 
telephone conversation he had with the father of their clients.  Having reviewed 
the participants’ respective recollections of this conversation, I cannot conclude 
that the conversation establishes the existence of bias or prejudice on the part of 
Judge Spon that requires his disqualification from this case.  Particularly 
noteworthy is that the juveniles’ father initiated the telephone conversation and 
sought out the judge for advice.  Recognizing that the matters raised by the father 
might come before him, Judge Spon appropriately attempted to limit the 
substance of the conversation.  There is nothing in the participants’ recollections 
of this conversation that indicates that the judge attempted to circumvent the 
juveniles’ constitutional right to counsel or compel their admissions to the alleged 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
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misconduct, or otherwise garnered information that has affected or will affect his 
consideration of the underlying matters.  Moreover, the question of whether the 
juveniles’ constitutional rights were violated is a legal issue subject to review on 
any appeal that may be taken from the trial court rulings. 
 
Accordingly, the record before me does not support a finding that Judge 
Spon should be disqualified for the reasons cited by affiants.  Should subsequent 
proceedings make it evident that Judge Spon has material evidence to offer in this 
matter, I am confident that the judge is cognizant of his obligation to recuse 
himself pursuant to the Code of Judicial Conduct and the Ohio Rules of Evidence. 
 
For these reasons, the affidavit of disqualification is found not well taken 
and is denied.  The case shall proceed before Judge Spon. 
__________________