Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-almd-2_13-cv-00499/USCOURTS-almd-2_13-cv-00499-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 510
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Vacate Sentence
Cause of Action: 28:2255 Motion to Vacate / Correct Illegal Sentenc

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IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

NORTHERN DIVISION

RICHARD SHEPARD, )

)

Petitioner, )

 )

v. ) Civil Action No. 2:13cv499-WKW

) (WO) 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, )

)

Respondent. )

ORDER ON MOTION

Before the court is petitioner Richard Shepard’s motion requesting that the

undersigned recuse herself from this civil action on the ground that she “has personal bias

and prejudice against Mr. Shepard and therefore could not preside with the required degree

of detached impartiality... .” (Doc. No. 22 at 1.)

Title 28 § 455(a) requires a judge to recuse “in any proceeding in which his

impartialitymight reasonablybe questioned.” 28 U.S.C. § 455(a). Section 455(b)(1) requires

a judge to recuse “[w]here he has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party[.]” 28

U.S.C. § 455(b)(1). “Under § 455, the standard is whether an objective, fully informed lay

observerwould entertain significant doubt about the judge’s impartiality.” Christo v.Padgett,

223 F.3d 1324, 1333 (11 Cir. 2000). th

I find that a reasonable person would not entertain significant doubt about my

impartiality in discharging my duties as a judge in this case. Any findings and rulings that

I have entered in this case have been based on the merits of the case and reached upon full

Case 2:13-cv-00499-WKW-SRW Document 23 Filed 09/29/15 Page 1 of 2
consideration of the parties’ pleadings and the record. Shepard’s claim of personal bias and

prejudice against him is unfounded.

Therefore, it is

ORDERED the Shepard’s motion for recusal (Doc. No. 22) be and is hereby

DENIED.

DONE, this 29 day of September, 2015. th

/s/ Susan Russ Walker 

SUSAN RUSS WALKER

CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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Case 2:13-cv-00499-WKW-SRW Document 23 Filed 09/29/15 Page 2 of 2