Title: Christian Hollinsworth v. State of Indiana

State: indiana

Issuer: Indiana Supreme Court

Document:

ATTORNEY FOR APPELLANT  
 
 
 
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE 
Suzy St. John  
 
 
 
 
 
Gregory F. Zoeller 
Indianapolis, Indiana   
 
 
 
 
Attorney General of Indiana  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kelly A. Miklos 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deputy Attorney General 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indianapolis, Indiana 
______________________________________________________________________________ 
 
 
In the 
Indiana Supreme Court  
_________________________________ 
 
No. 49S02-1006-CR-286 
 
 
CHRISTIAN HOLLINSWORTH, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appellant (Defendant below), 
 
v. 
 
STATE OF INDIANA,  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Appellee (Plaintiff  below). 
_________________________________ 
 
Appeal from the Marion Superior Court, Criminal Division 13,  
No. 49F13-0709-CM-177170 
The Honorable William Young, Judge  
_________________________________ 
 
On Petition To Transfer from the Indiana Court of Appeals, No. 49A02-0903-CR-226 
_________________________________ 
 
June 3, 2010 
 
Per Curiam. 
 
Christian Hollinsworth appeals her conviction for driving while suspended as a class A 
misdemeanor.  See Ind. Code § 9-24-19-2.  She was sentenced to 365 days, executed, and her 
FILED
CLERK
of the supreme court,
court of appeals and
tax court
Jun 03 2010, 3:00 pm
 
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driving privileges were suspended for an additional 365 days.  The sentence was subsequently 
modified on her motion, and the remaining executed portion of the sentence was suspended.1   
 
After the Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction and sentence, Hollinsworth petitioned 
to transfer jurisdiction to this Court.  See Appellate Rule 56(B). 
 
Hollinsworth argues that comments by the trial court during the bench trial showed the 
court was not impartial.  For example,  at the beginning of the trial, the court granted a recess so 
the parties could discuss a plea agreement, but no agreement resulted, and the trial began.  After 
the State called its first witness, Hollinsworth informed the Court that she did not want a trial and 
now wanted to accept the State’s proffered plea agreement.  The Court exhibited impatience and 
stated that if Hollinsworth were found guilty, “she’s going to jail for a year.”  (Tr. p. 8.)  The trial 
court further stated, “I don’t know if I want to take your plea.  I’d rather just go to trial, I think.  I 
don’t like being jerked around at all, all right?”  (Tr. p. 9.)  Also, while reviewing Hollinsworth's 
criminal history at sentencing, the trial court noted that Hollinsworth had been charged with theft 
and battery while the instant suspended license case had been pending.  When her attorney 
stated, “Those are only alleged charges,” the trial court responded, “Sure they are.”  (Tr. p. 23.) 
 
Indiana Judicial Conduct Canon 2 requires a judge to “perform the duties of judicial 
office impartially, competently, and diligently.”  Judges must be “objective and open-minded.”   
Rule 2.2, comment 1.  “A judge shall perform the duties of judicial office . . . without bias or 
prejudice.”  Rule 2.3(A).  “A judge shall be patient, dignified, and courteous to litigants.”  Rule 
                                                 
1 Hollinsworth was also found guilty of speeding in a zone set by local authority, but she does not 
challenge this on transfer.   
 
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2.8(B).  A judge shall disqualify himself or herself “in any proceeding in which the judge’s 
impartiality might reasonably be questioned” including in circumstances when “the judge has a 
personal bias or prejudicial concerning a party.”  Rule 2.11(A).   
 
The trial court’s behavior in this case did not meet these standards.   
 
Accordingly, we grant transfer, vacate the Court of Appeals opinion reported at 
Hollinsworth v. State, 920 N.E.2d 679 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009), reverse the conviction, and remand 
for a new trial. 
 
Shepard, C.J., and Dickson, Sullivan and Rucker, JJ., concur. 
 
Boehm, J., agrees with the majority on the merits of this case but would deny transfer because 
the executed sentence in this case has already expired.