Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_16-cv-02096/USCOURTS-azd-2_16-cv-02096-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

WO

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA 

Demetrius Antwan Wilson,

Plaintiff,

v. 

Jeffrey Alvarez, et al.,

Defendants.

No. CV-16-02096-PHX-JAT (DMF)

ORDER 

Pending before the Court is Plaintiff Demetrius A. Wilson’s “Notice of Change of 

Magistrate Judge Deborah M. Fine and Requesting She Be Removed” (“Motion”). (Doc. 

25). Plaintiff requests that Magistrate Judge Fine be “removed” from both this action, 

2:16-CV-02096-JAT-DMF, as well as 2:14-CV-01613-JAT-DMF,1 due to alleged bias 

against the movant.2 Having considered Plaintiff’s filing, the Court now rules on the 

motion. 

I.

 Two statutes govern whether a federal judge must recuse in a particular case, Title 

28 U.S.C. §§ 144 and 455 (2012). The Court is unclear as to which statute Plaintiff 

 

1

This Order addresses only Plaintiff’s request with respect to the instant matter.

Despite seeking Magistrate Judge Fine’s removal in 2:14-CV-01613-JAT-DMF, Plaintiff 

has not filed the appropriate motion in that case. 

2

 Plaintiff also filed a similar motion in 2:16-CV-3012-JAT-DMF that is addressed 

by separate order. 

Case 2:16-cv-02096-JAT-DMF Document 29 Filed 09/29/16 Page 1 of 5
- 2 - 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

moves under, and will address both with respect to Plaintiff’s claims.3

Section 144 applies when a party to a proceeding believes that the judge “has a 

personal bias or prejudice either against him or in favor of any adverse party,” 28 U.S.C. 

§ 144, and “expressly conditions relief upon the filing of a timely and legally sufficient 

affidavit.” United States v. Sibla, 624 F.2d 864, 867 (9th Cir. 1980) (citations omitted). 

Specifically, the statute provides: 

The affidavit shall state the facts and the reasons for the belief 

that bias or prejudice exists, and shall be filed not less than 

ten days before the beginning of the term [session] at which 

the proceeding is to be heard, or good cause shall be shown 

for failure to file it within such time. A party may file only 

one such affidavit in any case. It shall be accompanied by a 

certificate of counsel of record stating that it is made in good 

faith. 

28 U.S.C. § 144. When a party files a timely and legally sufficient affidavit pursuant to 

section 144, the judge “shall proceed no further therein, but another judge shall be 

assigned to hear such proceeding.” Id.; Sibla, 624 F.2d at 867. But “if the motion and 

affidavit required by section 144 [are] not presented to the judge, no relief under section 

144 is available.” Sibla, 624 F.2d at 868. 

Having reviewed Plaintiff’s motion, the Court finds that it does not comply with 

the requirements set forth in 28 U.S.C. § 144. Plaintiff has not attached any affidavit to 

his motion, let alone one that alleges sufficient facts to satisfy the statute’s demands. 

Even forgiving Plaintiff’s failure to submit an affidavit as required by 28 U.S.C. § 144, 

Plaintiff has failed to proffer sufficient evidence to justify recusal. Section 144 “must be 

given the utmost strict construction to safeguard the judiciary from frivolous attacks upon 

its integrity and to prevent abuse and ensure the orderly functioning of the judicial 

 

3

See Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d 1221, 1235 (9th Cir. 1984) (citation omitted) 

(courts must “liberally construe” the pleadings of pro se litigants); see also Boag v. 

MacDougall, 454 U.S. 364, 365 (1982) (per curiam) (courts should liberally construe the 

“inartful pleading” of pro se litigants); Ashelman v. Pope, 793 F.2d 1072, 1078 (9th Cir. 

1986) (courts in this Circuit should hold “pro se pleadings to a less stringent standard

than formal pleadings prepared by lawyers”).

Case 2:16-cv-02096-JAT-DMF Document 29 Filed 09/29/16 Page 2 of 5
- 3 - 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

system.” Rademacher v. City of Phoenix, 442 F. Supp. 27, 29 (D. Ariz. 1977) (citations 

omitted). Allegations that are merely conclusory are not legally sufficient. United States 

v. $292,888.04 U.S. Currency, 54 F.3d 564, 566 (9th Cir. 1995); United States v. Vespe, 

868 F.2d 1328, 1340 (3d. Cir. 1989). And the Supreme Court has determined that a 

court’s judicial rulings “almost never” constitute a valid basis for a motion to disqualify. 

This is because “opinions formed by the judge on the basis of facts introduced or events 

occurring in the course of the current proceedings, or of prior proceedings do not 

constitute a basis for a bias or partiality motion unless they display a deep-seated 

favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible.” Liteky, 510 U.S. at

554-55. 

The principal contention supporting Plaintiff’s motion is that Magistrate Judge 

Fine has denied his motions to file an amended complaint on multiple occasions where 

Plaintiff had previously fixed the at-issue deficiencies. This allegation is conclusory, 

unsupported by evidence, and amounts to a claim of bias that emanates from Magistrate 

Judge Fine’s prior opinions, which is “almost never” a valid basis to support recusal. And 

nothing suggests that Magistrate Judge Fine’s opinions “indicate that the judge has ‘a 

deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible.’” Reed 

v. Barcklay, No. CV-11-01339-PHC-JAT (JFM), 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 87988, at *11 

(D. Ariz. June 25, 2012) (quoting Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555) (noting that the judicial 

opinions of a judge may serve as an appropriate basis for recusal under such 

circumstances). Thus, even considering the merits of Plaintiff’s motion, it must fail.

Accordingly, to the extent that Plaintiff seeks recusal of Magistrate Judge Fine under 28 

U.S.C. § 144, Plaintiff’s claim fails and will be denied, with prejudice. 

 To the extent that Plaintiff seeks removal under 28 U.S.C. § 455, the Court finds 

that Plaintiff’s motion fails on the merits for the same reasons. Although a section 455 

motion may be raised by a party sua sponte, does not require an accompanying affidavit, 

and is self-executing, motions under section 455 are held to the same legal standard as 

under section 144, and “judicial rulings alone almost never constitute a valid basis for a 

Case 2:16-cv-02096-JAT-DMF Document 29 Filed 09/29/16 Page 3 of 5
- 4 - 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

bias or partiality motion.” United States v. Liteky, 510 U.S. 540, 554 (1994). Here, as 

discussed previously, Plaintiff’s only basis for relief is tied to Magistrate Judge Fine’s 

prior judicial opinions, which is improper. Moreover, Plaintiff alleges absolutely no facts 

or evidence to support his claim of partiality/conflict of interest. Thus, no “reasonable 

person with knowledge of all the facts would conclude the judge’s impartiality might 

reasonably be questioned.” Taylor v. Regents of Univ. of Cal., 993 F.2d 710, 712 (9th Cir. 

1993) (citation omitted); see also United States v. $292,888.04 U.S. Currency, 54 F.3d 

564, 566 (9th Cir. 1995) (noting that allegations of bias or partiality that are conclusory in 

nature are legally insufficient to support recusal/removal). Therefore, even considered 

under § 455, Plaintiff’s motion fails, and will be denied, without prejudice. 

II.

 For the aforementioned reasons, 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

/ 

Case 2:16-cv-02096-JAT-DMF Document 29 Filed 09/29/16 Page 4 of 5
- 5 - 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

IT IS ORDERED that the reference to the Magistrate Judge is withdrawn only 

with respect to Plaintiff’s “Notice of Change of Magistrate Judge Deborah M. Fine and 

Requesting She Be Removed,” (Doc. 25), and that all other matters must remain with the 

Magistrate Judge.

 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that to the extent Plaintiff’s “Notice of Change of 

Magistrate Judge Deborah M. Fine and Requesting She Be Removed,” (Doc. 25), seeks 

removal of Magistrate Judge Fine pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 144, it is DENIED, with 

prejudice. 

 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that to the extent Plaintiff’s “Notice of Change of 

Magistrate Judge Deborah M. Fine and Requesting She Be Removed,” (Doc. 25), seeks 

removal of Magistrate Judge Fine pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 455, it is DENIED, without 

prejudice. 

Dated this 28th day of September, 2016.

Case 2:16-cv-02096-JAT-DMF Document 29 Filed 09/29/16 Page 5 of 5