Title: In re Disqualification of Ambrose

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

[Cite as In re Disqualification of Ambrose, 110 Ohio St.3d 1220, 2005-Ohio-7154.] 
 
 
IN RE DISQUALIFICATION OF AMBROSE. 
THE STATE OF OHIO v. HALE. 
[Cite as In re Disqualification of Ambrose,  
110 Ohio St.3d 1220, 2005-Ohio-7154.] 
Judges — Affidavit of disqualification — Disqualification denied. 
(No. 05-AP-069—Decided July 11, 2005.) 
ON AFFIDAVIT OF DISQUALIFICATION in Cuyahoga County  
Court of Common Pleas Case No. CR 454857. 
__________________ 
 
MOYER, C.J. 
{¶ 1} Attorney John T. Martin – counsel for the defendant – has filed an 
affidavit with the clerk of this court under R.C. 2701.03 seeking the 
disqualification of Judge Dick Ambrose from acting on any further proceedings in 
case No. CR 454857 in the Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County. 
{¶ 2} Martin alleges that Judge Ambrose has expressed a predisposition 
to impose a death sentence on the defendant, who was recently tried on 
aggravated-murder charges in the judge’s courtroom.  The defendant has 
evidently been convicted by a jury on those charges, and that jury has 
recommended a death sentence.  When the jury’s sentencing recommendation was 
received by the trial court on June 16, 2005, Judge Ambrose said, “[T]he sentence 
of death shall be imposed upon the Defendant.  A sentencing hearing will be set in 
this case * * * to place that verdict into effect.  The Court will enter that verdict at 
that time.” 
{¶ 3} The judge’s statement was improper, affiant Martin alleges, and 
shows that the judge has already decided to impose a death sentence without first 
hearing a statement from the defendant before a sentence is imposed. 
SUPREME COURT OF OHIO 
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{¶ 4} Judge Ambrose has responded to the affidavit, saying that his 
words were “imprecise” and were “spoken in error” when the jury returned its 
verdict at the end of the penalty phase of the trial.  His words did not reflect his 
true intent, he states, which is “to follow the law at all times” and to “review all of 
the evidence presented during the sentencing phase before determining what 
sentence to impose.”  The judge explains that since receiving the jury’s 
recommendation, he has ordered a complete transcript of the penalty-phase 
proceedings and has given defense counsel an opportunity to file a sentencing 
memorandum addressing any mitigating factors that might support a life sentence 
for the defendant. 
{¶ 5} I find no basis for ordering the disqualification of Judge Ambrose.  
Both the tone and content of his written response show that the judge is neither 
biased nor prejudiced against the defendant.  The affidavit cites no other grounds 
for the judge’s removal except his brief remarks quoted above, and in fact the 
affidavit notes that the judge earlier made other statements that could be perceived 
as favorable to the defense.  Isolated remarks made by a judge near the end of a 
three- or four-week trial are not sufficient to prove that the judge is biased or 
prejudiced.  And the remarks themselves were spoken in error and do not reflect 
his true intentions, the judge contends. 
{¶ 6} Given that defense counsel has cited no other words or conduct on 
the judge’s part suggesting any bias or prejudice, given that the judge has readily 
acknowledged his misstatement, and given that his conduct since June 16, 2005, 
suggests that he is carefully weighing the jury’s sentencing recommendation and 
is taking very seriously his own independent responsibility to weigh the 
aggravating circumstances and mitigating factors before imposing a sentence, I 
find no reason on the record before me to disqualify him from the case. 
{¶ 7} As I have said, “[a] judge is presumed to follow the law and not to 
be biased, and the appearance of bias or prejudice must be compelling to 
January Term, 2005 
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overcome these presumptions.”  In re Disqualification of George, 100 Ohio St.3d 
1241, 2003-Ohio-5489, 798 N.E.2d 23, ¶ 5.  Those presumptions have not been 
overcome in this case. 
{¶ 8} For the reasons stated above, the affidavit of disqualification is 
denied.  The case may proceed before Judge Ambrose. 
______________________