Title: In re Disqualification of Bressler

State: ohio

Issuer: Ohio Supreme Court

Document:

IN RE DISQUALIFICATION OF BRESSLER. 
THE STATE OF OHIO v. KEHL ET AL. 
[Cite as In re Disqualification of Bressler (1997), ___ Ohio St.3d ___.] 
Judges — Affidavit of disqualification — Disqualification in criminal case not 
warranted when judge is friend of detective and honorary member of the 
Fraternal Order of Police — Recognition by means of bestowing an 
honorary membership or providing some other nominal token of gratitude 
for the judge’s leadership and service does not, without more, warrant 
disqualification. 
(No. 97-AP-133 — Decided September 19, 1997.) 
ON AFFIDAVIT OF DISQUALIFICATION in Butler County  
Court of Common Pleas case No. CR97-05-0504. 
 
MOYER, C.J. This affidavit of disqualification was filed by defendant 
Jeffrey A. Turco seeking the disqualification of Judge H.J. Bressler from further 
proceedings in the above-captioned case. 
 
Affiant claims that Judge Bressler should be disqualified from the 
underlying case because he is a close friend of a police detective who will be 
called as a witness in the case and because he is a member of the Fraternal Order 
of Police.  Judge Bressler admits a friendship with the detective but denies that 
this friendship will affect his consideration of this case.  He further indicates that 
he was made an honorary member of the Fraternal Order of Police based on his 
long service to the local community, an award that has been bestowed on several 
other community leaders.  Judge Bressler states that he does not participate in FOP 
matters, does not attend FOP meetings, and does not vote on FOP issues. 
 
Previously, I have held that the mere existence of a friendship between a 
judge and an attorney or between a judge and a party will not disqualify the judge 
 
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from cases involving that attorney or party.  See In re Disqualification of 
Economus (Sept. 8, 1987), No. 87-AP-059, unreported, and In re Disqualification 
of Close (Aug. 27, 1997), No. 97-AP-122, unreported.  Absent some affirmative 
indication that a judge’s friendship with a potential witness in a pending action 
will affect that judge’s consideration of the case, I decline to establish a rule that 
mandates the judge’s disqualification based on the existence of the friendship. 
 
With respect to the claim that Judge Bressler’s honorary membership in the 
FOP mandates his disqualification from this case, I note that judges frequently are 
recognized by a variety of organizations for their leadership within the 
community.  Recognition by means of bestowing an honorary membership or 
providing some other nominal token of gratitude for the judge’s leadership and 
service does not, without more, mandate the judge’s disqualification from cases in 
which that organization may have a general interest.  Of particular relevance in 
this instance is Judge Bressler’s assertion that he does not participate in FOP 
meetings or activities and the fact that the FOP is not a party to the underlying 
case. 
 
For these reasons, the affidavit of disqualification is found not well taken 
and is denied.  The case shall proceed before Judge Bressler.