Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-00322/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-00322-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S REQUEST FOR DISQUALIFICATION—C-05-00322 RMW

MAG

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

DOUGLAS J. WILLIAMS, 

Plaintiff,

v.

JON N. SY, STEVE HALE, JAMES A.

BAKER, MIKE MILLER, JERRY W.

BREZINA, and DOES 1 thorough 100, inclusive,

Defendants.

No. C-05-00322 RMW

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S REQUEST

FOR DISQUALIFICATION

Plaintiff Douglas Williams, proceeding in pro per, claims the following in his complaint against

defendants Jon Sy, Steve Hale, James A. Baker, Mike Miller, and Jerry Brezina: fraudulent inducement to

contract, defamation under California Civil Code §§ 43-46, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and

conspiracytointerferewithcivilrights under U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1985(3) and 18 U.S.C. § 241. Defendants have

moved to dismiss his complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, insufficiency of service of process and

failure to state a claimuponwhichreliefmaybe granted. Plaintiff has not opposed the motion, which is set for

hearing on Friday, July 1, 2005 at 9:00 a.m.

On Monday, June 27, 2005, plaintiff submitted a letter to the court requesting his case be reassigned

because plaintiff discovered that counselfor defendant, Todd KennethBoyer, was once a volunteer externfor

the undersigned. Plaintiff asks that the undersigned be disqualified to address potential bias against him. 
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ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S REQUEST FOR DISQUALIFICATION—C-05-00322 RMW

MAG 2

The court confirms that Mr. Boyer worked in chambers as a student extern for approximately three

months infall1998. However, that fact in and of itself does not demonstrate that a judge has "a personal bias

or prejudice either against[plaintiff] or infavor of[defendants]", 28 U.S.C. § 144, nor doesit provide grounds

uponwhicha judge's "impartialitymight reasonably be questioned." Id. § 455(a). Plaintiff's concerns regarding

bias or prejudice are not well taken, thus, the court declines to reassign the case.

DATED: 6/28/05 /s/ Ronald M. Whyte

RONALD M. WHYTE

United States District Judge
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ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S REQUEST FOR DISQUALIFICATION—C-05-00322 RMW

MAG 3

Notice of this document has been sent to:

Plaintiffs:

Douglas J. Williams 

Post Office Box 52198 

Pacific Grove, Ca 93950 

PRO SE

Counsel for Defendant(s):

Ronald J. Holland 

Todd Kenneth Boyer 

Littler Mendelson, P.C. 

650 California Street, 20th Fl. 

San Francisco, CA 94108 

Counsel are responsible for distributing copies of this document to co-counsel that have not registered for efiling under the court's CM/ECF program.

Dated: 6/28/05 /s/ MAG

Chambers of Judge Whyte