SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, DOYLE, P. J.

, and REESE, J.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

Febr uar y 15, 2018



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 7 A1 45 4 . SERDULA v . THE STATE.

M I LLE R , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Pau l Pat ri ck Serd u l a w as i n di ct ed i n C o b b Co u n ty fo r n u m ero u s offen s es

,

inc l u d in g ch i ld m o l es t at io n an d ag g rav at ed s o do m y

. Serd ul a m o v ed t o recu s e t h e t ri al

ju d g e, al leg i ng

, rel ev a n t l y, t hat t h e ju d g e h ad a “ cl o s e rel at i o n s h i p ” wi t h t h e Co b b

Co u n t y Di s t ri ct A tt orn ey

. Fo l l owi n g a h eari n g, t h e t ri al co u rt d en i ed th e m o t i o n

, an d

aft e r a b en ch t ri al

, Serd u l a was fo u n d g u i l ty o f al l t h e co u n t s wi t h wh i ch h e was

ch arg ed

. Serd u l a n o w ap p eal s fro m t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f h is am en d ed m o t i o n fo r

n ew t ri al

. Becau s e we fi nd t h a t t h e t ri al co u rt erred in i t s d en ial o f t h e m o t i o n to

recu s e, we v a c a t e Serd u l a’ s co n v i ct i o n s an d rem an d fo r fu rt h er p ro ceed i ng s

co n si s t en t wi t h t h i s o p i ni on

.Th e t ri al co u rt ’ s d et erm i n at i o ns ab o u t wh et h er recu s al is warran ted u n d er

Un i fo rm Su p eri o r Co u rt Ru l e 2 5 .3 are q u es t io n s o f l aw wh i ch are s u b ject t o d e n o v o

re v i e w

. M

a y o r & Al d

er men o f Ci t y o f S a va n n a h v. Ba t

s o n -Co o k Co

. , 2 9 1 Ga. 1 1 4,

1 1 9 (1 ) (7 2 8 SE2 d 1 89 ) (2 0 1 2 ).

So v i ewed

, i n 2 0 1 0

, Serd u l a was i n d i ct ed f o r m u l t i p l e co u n t s o f u n l awfu l

s u rv ei l l an ce, ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

, ag grav at ed s o d o m y

, s ex u al as s au l t ag ai ns t a p ers o n

i n cu s to d y

, an d ag grav at ed ch i l d m o l es t at i o n

. Th at s am e y ear, t h e t ri al j u d ge, Reu b en

M

. G reen

, cam

pai g n ed fo r e l ect i o n t o th e Co b b Co un t y St at e Co u rt

, b u t was

ap p o i nt ed by t h e Go vern o r t o t h e Co b b Co u nt y Su p eri o r Co urt b en ch

. 1 Th e Co b b

Co u n t y D i s t ri ct A t t orn ey at t h at t i m e was Pat ri ck H. Head

. In Decem b er 2 01 0

, aft er

t h i s cas e w as as s i g n ed t o J u d g e Green

, Serd u l a fi l ed a m o ti o n t o recu s e, acco m p an i ed

b y a s wo rn affi d av it

. In t h e affi d av i t

, Serd u l a as sert ed t h a t h e h ad l earn ed o f t h e

“ cl o s e rel at i o n s hi p” b et ween t h e t ri al ju d g e an d Head

.

At a h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n

, Serd ul a’ s t ri al co u ns el arg u ed t h at J ud g e Green an d

t h e d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey h ad a “ cl o s e as s o ci at i o n

, ” an d t h at an ev i d en ti a r y h e a r i n g was

1 At t h e t i m e t h at t hi s cas e was b ei n g i n v es ti g at ed

, J u d g e Green was em p l o y ed

b y Co b b Co u n t y as an as s is t an t d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey

, b u t h e was as s i g n ed to t h e No rt h ern

Di s t ri ct o f Geo rg i a U.S. At t o rn ey ’ s Offi ce. W h i l e s t i l l as s i g n ed t o t h at o ffi ce, J u d g e

Green cam

p ai gn ed fo r el ect i o n t o t h e Co b b Co u nt y St at e Co u rt

.

2n eed ed to i n q u i re i n t o t h e cl o sen es s o f t h e rel at io n s hi p

. Serd u la req u es ted t h at t h e

t ri al co u rt refer t h e recu s al m ot io n t o an o t her ju dg e fo r d i s p os i t i o n

, bu t th e t ri al co u rt

d en ied t he m o t i o n

. In d o i n g s o

, J u d g e Green st at ed h e d i d n o t b el i ev e th at t h ere was

an y reas on wh y hi s i m

p art i al i t y m i g h t b e reas o n ab l y qu es t io n ed

, t h a t h e n ei t h er

rep res en t ed t h e St at e i n an y as p ect o f Serd u l a’ s cas e n o r p art i ci p at ed i n t h e

i n v es t i g at i o n o f Serd u l a’ s cas e, an d t h at h e di d n o t h av e an y s p eci al rel at i o ns h i p wi th

Head

. J u d g e Green

, h o w ev er, l at er ad m i t t ed d u ri n g a h eari n g o n a recu sal m o t i o n in

an o th er cas e t h at H e a d h ad s erv ed as h i s cam p ai g n treas u rer fo r h i s u l t i m at el y

ab an do n ed 2 0 1 0 St at e Co u rt cam p ai g n

. 2 Po st v. S t a t e

, 2 9 8 G a. 24 1

, 2 5 5 (3 ) (a) (7 7 9

SE2 d 6 2 4) (2 0 1 5).

Fo l l owi n g a b en ch t ri al

, t h e t ri al co u rt fo u n d Serd ul a g u i l t y o f al l co u n t s wi th

wh i ch h e was ch arg ed an d s en ten ced h i m to li fe i m p ri s o nm en t. Serd u l a n ow ap p eal s

fro m t h e d en i al o f h i s am en ded m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, arg u i n g

, i nt er al i a, t h at t h e t ri al

ju d g e erred i n d en y in g t he m o ti o n t o recu s e.

2 W e ack no wl ed g e t hi s u n d i s p u t ed fact i n t h e Su p rem e Co u rt o f G eo rg i a’ s

o p i n i o n p u rs u an t to OCGA § 2 4-2 -2 0 1 (b ) (2 ); s ee Ro t h en b er g v. S ecu r i ty Mg mt

. Co

. In c.

, 66 7 F2 d 9 5 8

, 9 6 1

, n

. 8 (1 1 t h Ci r. 1 98 2 ) (ap p el l at e co u rt can t ak e “ ju di ci al n o t i ce

o f s u b s eq u en t d ev el op m en t s i n cas es t h a t a r e a m at t er o f p ub l i c reco rd an d are

rel ev an t t o t h e ap p eal ”) (ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed ).

31

. A s h i s fi rs t en u m erat i on o f erro r, Serd ul a as s ert s t h at th e i m p art ial i t y o f t h e

t ri al co u rt m i g ht reas o n ab l y b e q u es ti o n ed i n t h is cas e, an d t h at rev ers al is warran t ed

d u e t o th e t ri al co u rt ’ s erro r i n d en y i n g h i s m o ti o n t o recu s e. W e ag ree t h at t h e t ri al

co u rt erred i n den y i n g Serd u l a’ s m o t i o n t o recu s e an d vacat e s uch o rd er wi t h

i n s t ru ct i o n

.

W e fi rs t rev i ew th e b as i c p ro ced u ral an d su b st an t i v e ru l es

g ov ern i n g m o t i o n s t o recu s e s up eri o r co u rt ju d g es i n

Geo rg i a. Ru l e 2 5.3 o f t h e Un i fo rm Su p eri o r Co urt Ru l es

ex p l ai n s t h at wh en t he t ri al ju d g e as s i g n ed t o a cas e i s

p res en t e d wi t h a recu s al m o t i o n an d an acco m p an y i n g

affi d av i t

, t h e ju dg e s h al l t em p o rari l y ceas e to act u p o n th e

m eri t s o f th e m at t er an d d et erm i n e i m m ed i a t e l y :

(1 ) wh et h er t he m ot i o n i s t i m el y ; (2 ) wh et h er th e affi d av i t

i s l eg al l y s u ffi ci en t ; an d (3 ) wh et her t h e affi d av i t s et s fo rt h

fact s t h at

, if p ro v ed

, w o u ld warran t th e as s ig n ed j u d ge’ s

recu sal fro m

t he cas e. If al l t h ree cri t eri a are m et

, a n o t h er

ju d g e s h al l b e as si g n ed to h ear th e m o ti o n t o recu s e. USCR

2 5.3

. Th e deci s i o n ab o u t referri n g a recu s al m o ti o n f o r

reas s i g n m en t t o an o t h er ju d g e d oes n o t i n v o l ve an ex erci s e

o f d i scret i o n b y

t h e ju d g e wh o se recu s al i s s o u g h t

.

(Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) Po s t , s u p ra, 2 9 8 Ga. at 2 43 (1 ).

4As an i n i t ial m at t er, we q u es t i o n wh et h er th e av erm en t o f a “ cl o s e rel at i o n s h i p ”

b et ween J u d g e Green an d Head wo u l d h a v e r e q u i red as s i g nm en t t o an o t her ju d ge,

b ecau s e t h i s cl ai m l ack s o b j e ct i v e fact s reg ard i n g t h e rel at i o n s h i p

. See Ma r l o w v.

S t a t e

, 3 3 9 Ga. Ap p

. 7 9 0

, 8 0 1 (4 ) (7 9 2 SE2 d 7 1 2 ) ( 2 0 1 6 ) (fi n di n g t he affi d av i t

i n s u ffi ci en t t o w arran t recu s al w h ere th e ap p el l an t s ci t ed n o ev id en ce th at t h e ju d g e

h ad an y co n t act w it h t h e v i ct i m o r t h e ex t en t o f th e rel at io n s hi p at i s s u e), cert

. d en i ed

(Ga. J u n e 5

, 2 0 1 7 ); s ee al s o

, e.g

., Gu d e v. S t at e

, 2 8 9 Ga. 4 6

, 4 9 -5 0 (2 ) (b ) (7 0 9 SE2 d

2 0 6 ) (2 0 1 1 ) (m ot io n i n s u ffi ci en t wh ere ap p el l an t al l eg ed t h at t h e j u d g e h ad

p rev i o u s l y b een an em

pl o y ee of t h e d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey an d o w ed a d eb t o f g rat i t u d e to

t h e d i s t ri ct at to rn ey

fo r h er p ri or em

p l o y m en t ).

N o n e t h e l es s

, “ [a] l l part i es b efo re t h e co u rt h av e t h e ri gh t t o an i m p art i al

ju d i ci al o ffi cer. Th e i s s u e o f ju d i ci al d i s qu al i fi cat i o n can ri se t o a co ns t i t u ti o n al l ev el

s i nce a fai r t ri al i n a fai r t ri bu n al i s a b as i c req u i rem e n t o f d ue p ro ces s .” (Ci t at i on s

an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed .) Ba ts o n -Co o k Co

. , s u p ra, 2 91 Ga. at 1 1 4. Th us

, ev en wh ere

t h e fact s i n an affi d av it d o n o t warran t recu s al i f as s u m ed t ru e, a ju d g e s t i l l m ai n t ai n s

an et hi cal d u t y t o recu s e h i m s el f wh en h e i s i n d ep en d en t l y aware o f g ro u nd s t o d o s o.

Gu d e , s u p ra, 2 8 9 Ga. at 5 0 (3 ).

5Un d er t he Geo rg i a Co d e o f J u d i ci al Co n du ct

, ju d g es are t o “ act at al l t i m es in

a m an n er t h at p r o m o t es p u bl i c co n fi d en ce i n th e

. . . i m p art i al i t y o f t h e ju d i ci ary .”

Ru l e 1 .2 (A). W h en d eci d i n g w h et h er t h e as s u m ed s t at e of fact s i n t h e affi d av i t wo u ld

au t h o ri ze an o rd er req u i ri n g recu s al

, t h e as s i g n ed ju d g e i s t o b e g u i d ed by Ru l e 2 .1 1

o f t h e Co d e. Po s t

, 2 9 8 Ga. at 2 4 4 (1 ). In acco rd an ce wi th Ru le 2 .1 1 ( A )

, 3 ju d g es

“ s h al l d i sq u al i fy t h e m s e l v e s i n an y pro ceed i n g i n wh i ch t h ei r i mp a r t i a l i t y m i g ht

reas on ab l y b e qu es t io n ed

, o r i n wh ich : (1 ) [t ] he ju d g e has a pers o n al b i as o r p reju d i ce

co n cern in g a p art y or a p art y ’ s l awy er

. . . .” (Em ph as i s i n ori g i n al .) A s ex p lai n ed in

t h e o ffi ci al co m

m en t ary t o t hi s r u l e

, e v e n w h ere a ju dg e d o es n o t t h i n k th at t h ere

ex i s t s an y b as is fo r d i s q u al i fi cat i o n

, h e “ s h o u l d d i scl o s e o n t h e reco rd

, o r i n o p en

co u rt

, in fo rm at i on t h at t h e co urt b el iev es t h e part i es o r t h ei r l awy ers m i g h t co n s i d er

rel ev an t to t h e q u es t i o n of d i s q u al i fi cat i o n

. ” Ru l e 2 .1 1 (A), Co m m en t [2 ] ; s ee S t i n s ki

v. S t a t e , 2 8 6 Ga. 8 3 9 , 8 4 2 (3 ) (6 9 1 SE2 d 8 5 4 ) (2 0 10 ).

W i t h t h e Co d e o f J u d i ci al Co nd u ct i n m i n d

, an d g i v en th e Su p r e m e C o u r t ’ s

ex t en s i v e an al y s i s i n Po s t

, we m u s t co n cl u d e t h at

, ev en as s um i n g

, w i t ho u t d eci d i n g,

t h e faci al i n su ffi ci en cy o f Serd u l a’ s affi d av i t

, t h e t ri al co u rt erred i n i t s di s p o s i t i o n

3 Befo re t h e G eo rg i a Co d e o f J u d i ci al Co n d u ct was rev i s ed effect iv e J an u ary

1

, 2 0 1 6, t h e p ro vi s i o ns of Ru l e 2 .1 1 (A) were s et f o r t h i n Can o n 3 E (1 ). See Po s t

,

s u p ra, 2 98 Ga. at 2 4 4 (1 ) n . 4

.

6o f t h e recu sal m o t i o n b ecau s e i t h ad an i n d ep en d en t du t y to ad d res s recu sal an d m ak e

d i s cl os u res b as ed o n J u d g e G reen ’ s p ers o n al kn o w l ed g e o f Head ’ s p o s i t i o n wi t h h i s

cam p ai g n

. 4

Th e treas u rer o f a ju dg e’ s cam p ai g n m ay hav e fi n an ci al rep o rt i ng o b li g at i on s

ev en af t er th e co n cl u s io n o f th e el ect i o n

. Po s t

, s u p ra, 2 9 8 Ga. at 25 0 (2 ) (d ). As t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt ex p l ai ned i n Po s t

, “ i t i s n o t u n us u al fo r t h e fi n an ci al co m p on en t s o f

a cam p ai g n t o co n t i nu e wel l aft er t h e el ect i o n co m p o n en t s o f t h e cam

pai g n h av e

en d ed

, as t h e cam

p ai g n p ay s o ff d eb t s (wh ich m a y r e q u i re ad d i t i o n al fu n drai s i n g ),

4 I n Po s t

, t h e defen d an t ’ s recu s al m o t i o n was s u p p ort ed wi t h a p ri n t o u t o f a

cam p ai g n d i s cl o s ure fo rm

, i n d i c a t i n g t h at as o f Ap ri l 2 0 11

, “ t h e [Co b b Co u n t y ]

d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey

, u s i n g th e ad d res s o f t h e d is t ri ct at t o rn ey ’ s o ffi ce, w as s erv i n g as t h e

t reas urer o f J u d g e Green ’ s act i v e cam p ai g n fo r t h e Su p eri or Co u rt

, n o t th e St at e Co u rt

s eat th e ju dg e was s eek i n g wh en he w as ap p o in t ed .” 2 9 8 Ga. at 2 50 (2 ) (d ). Th e

Su p rem e Co urt d et erm i n ed

, h o wev er, t h at q ues t i o n s rem ai n ed “ reg ard i n g J u d g e

Green ’ s cam

p ai g n co m

m i t t ee o r co m

m i t t ees

, wh at ju d i ci al offi ces t h ey were fo r an d

wh et h er an d w h en th ei r act iv i t i es were t erm i n at ed

, an d th e s co p e an d n a t u re o f

Head ’ s fu n ct i o n s as t reas urer.” Id

. at 2 52 (2 ) ( d )

. A c c o rd i n g ly

, t h e Su p rem e Co u rt

ru l ed t h at “ J u d g e Green w as req u i red t o refer t h e m o t i o n fo r reas si g n m en t t o an o t h er

j u d g e wh o co u l d th en deci d e t h e recu s al m o t i o n on i t s m eri ts

, aft er an ev i d e n t i a r y

h eari n g o r o t her d ev el o p m en t o f t h e reco rd .” Id . at 2 5 3 (2 ) (e).

W e reco g n i ze t hat u n l i k e Po s t

, t h ere wa s n o c a m p ai g n d i s cl o s u re fo rm fi l ed

h ere, pert ai n in g t o a cu r ren t cam p ai gn co m

m i t t ee. Nev ert hel es s

, we d o no t fi n d t h at

t h i s ren d ers Serd u l a’ s cas e s o di s t in ct fro m Po s t s o as t o co m p el a d ifferen t res u l t

, b ecau s e Serd u l a’ s m ot i o n was fi l ed two m o nt h s aft er J ud g e Green was ap po i n t ed to

t h e s u peri o r co urt i n 2 0 10

, an d Head h ad s erv ed as J u d g e Green ’ s cam p ai g n treas u rer

t h at s am e y ear.

7refu nd s o r o t herwi s e ex p en ds co n tri b u t i o ns . . . .” Id

., s u p ra, 2 9 8 G a. at 2 5 0 (2 ) (d ).

Th u s, o n e co ul d reas o n ab l y in fer t h at Head pl ay ed “ a si g n i fi can t ro l e i n m an ag i n g t h e

fi nan ci a l act i v i t ies o f t h e ju d g e’ s cam p ai gn ,” Id

., s u p ra, 2 98 Ga. at 2 5 1 (2 ) (d ), an d

m a y h a v e h a d o b li g at i o n s i n t h i s ro l e ev en aft er J u d g e G reen was ap p oi n ted t o t h e

Su p eri o r Co urt i n Oct o b er 2 0 1 0

.

Serd u l a fi l ed h i s recu s al m o t i o n ap p ro xi m at el y t wo m o nths a ft er J u dg e Green ’ s

ap p oi n t m en t

. At t he h eari n g in Feb ru ary 2 0 11

, Serd u l a’ s t ri al co u n s el arg u ed t h at t h e

t ri al ju d g e an d t h e d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey “ were fai rl y cl o s e,” an d h ad a “ cl o s e as s o ci at i o n,”

t h at th i s was an i m

p o rt an t i s s u e, an d t h at an ev i d en t i ary h eari n g was need ed to i n q u i re

i n t o “ t h e cl o s e t ies ” bet ween Ju d g e Green an d th e d i s tri ct a t t o rn ey

. D es p i t e J u d g e

Green ’ s o wn k n o w l ed g e reg ard i n g Head ’ s i n v o l v em en t i n h is recen t cam p ai g n

, t h e

reco rd d o es n o t ev in ce t h at h e m ad e an y co rres p o n di n g d i s cl o s u re t o t he p art i es

.

W e co n c l u d e t hat t h i s p ro ceed in g was o n e i n wh ich t h e t ri al ju d g e’ s

i m p art i al i t y m ig h t reas on ab l y b e q u es t i o ned

. P o s t

, s u p ra, 2 9 8 G a. at 2 4 4 ; G u d e

, s u p ra,

2 8 9 Ga. at 48 (1 ). Ev en i f th e t ri al co u rt were n o t i n cl i ned to recu se i t s el f, at a

m i n i m u m

, t h e m o t i o n s h o u l d h av e b een ref e r r ed t o an o t her ju d g e. See Po s t

, s u p ra,

2 9 8 Ga. at 2 5 1 (2 ) (d ) (ci t i ng Nei ma n -Ma r cu s Gr o u p

, In c. v. Ro b i n s o n

, 8 2 9 So 2 d 9 6 7,

9 6 8 (Fl a. Di st

. Ct

. Ap p

. 2 00 2 ) (“ W e h o ld t h at wh ere a ju d g e s el ect s an at t o rn ey to

8s erv e in t h e s p e c i al ro le o f cam p ai g n t reas u rer i n an el ect i on cam p ai gn

, an d t h e

cam p ai g n i s n o t rem o te i n t i m e fro m t h e d at e t h e r e l a t i o n sh i p i s rev eal ed t o t h e

o p p o s i n g p art y

, d i s q ual i fi cat i o n i s w arran ted .”)); s e e al s o Bl o omi n g t on Ma g a z i ne,

In c. v. Ki a n g

, 9 6 1 NE2 d 6 1

, 6 6 -6 7 (In d

. Ct

. Ap p

. 2 0 1 2 ) (recu s a l w a r r a n t e d wh ere

p art y ’ s co u n s el s erv e d as ch ai rm an o f ju d g e’ s el ect io n co m m i t t ee, co u n s el fi l ed

ap p earan ce i n t h e m at ter t h r e e m o n t h s aft er t h e el ect i o n

, an d m o t i o n t o recu s e was

fi led w i t hi n t w o y ears o f t he el ect i o n ).

As i n Po st

, t h e ex t en t

, ti m i n g an d n at u re of H ead ’ s i n v o lv em en t as t reas u rer are

u n t o l d an d n eed t o b e fact u al l y d ev el o p ed . Acco rd in g l y , we

v acat e [Serd u la’ s ] co n v i ct i o n s an d J u d g e Green ’ s o r d e r d en y i n g h i s

recu sal m o ti o n

, an d we rem an d t h i s cas e t o t h e t ri al co u rt t o b e referred

fo r t h e as s i g n m en t o f a ju d g e o th er t h an Ju d ge G reen t o deci d e th e

recu sal m ot i o n

.

If t h e ju d g e as s i g n ed t o d eci d e t h e recu s al m o t i o n d en i es i t, t hen J u d ge

Green wi l l co n t i n u e t o p res i d e ov er th e cas e, t h e j u d g m e n t s o f

co n v i ct i o n ag ai n s t [Serd u l a] s h o u l d b e re-en t ered

, an d h e m ay fi l e a new

ap p eal en u m erat i n g t he d en i al o f t h e recu s al m o t io n as erro r al on g w i t h

t h e en um erat io n s o f tri al erro r t h at h e rai s ed i n t h i s ap p eal

. If t h e recu s al

m o t i o n i s g ran t ed

, h o w ev er, [Serd u la ’ s ] cas e m u s t be reas si g n ed

, al l

p ro ceed i n g s an d o rd ers aft er t h e f i l i n g o f t h e m o t i o n wo u l d b e v o id as

9t o [Serd u l a]

, an d h i s c a s e wo u ld s tart o ver fro m t h at p o i nt b efo re th e

n ew ju dg e as s i g n ed t o t h e cas e.

(Ci t at i o n s o m i t t ed .) Po s t , s u p ra, 2 9 8 Ga. at 2 53 (2 ) (e). 5

2

. In l ig h t of o u r co n cl u s i o n i n Di v i s i o n 1

, we n e e d n o t ad d res s Serd u l a’ s

rem ai n i n g en um erat i o n s o f erro r at t h i s t i m e.

3

. Serd u l a’ s n ew s ub s t i t u t e ap p el lat e co u ns el has al s o fi l ed m o t i o n s t o rem an d,

i n w hi ch Serd u l a req u es t s ev i d en t i ary h eari n g s o n ad d i t io n al is s u es n o t p res en t ed

b efo re t h e t ri al co u rt . W e ad d res s each i n t u rn

.

a. Serd u l a rai s es t h e i s s u e o f p o s s i bl e i n e f f e ct i v en es s o f t ri al co u n s el in

p res en t i ng t h e m o t i o n t o recu s e. Ho wev er, t h i s i s s u e h as b een wai ved

.

“ W h ere th e i s s u e of t ri al co u n s el ’ s effect i v en es s h as b een rai s ed o n m o t i o n fo r

n ew tri al

, an y cl ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce b y t ri al co u n s el n o t rai sed at th at t i m e

are wai v ed .” (Ci t at i on o m it t ed .) S mi t h v. St a t e

, 2 82 Ga. Ap p

. 3 39

, 3 4 4 (4 ) (6 3 8 SE2 d

7 9 1 ) (2 0 0 6 ). Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at Serd ul a’ s p rev i ou s ap p el l at e at t o rn ey fi l ed a

5 W e n o te t h at t h e Po s t cas e i ncl u d ed t w o o t h e r d efen d an t s

, wh o s e cas es t h e

Su p rem e Co u rt rem an d ed t o t h e t ri al co u rt “ wi th d i rect i o n t h at t he cas es b e reas s i g n ed

t o a n ew ju d g e t o co nt i n u e wi t h p ret r i a l p r o c e e d i n g s” fro m t h e p o i n t at wh i ch t h e

d efen d an t s h ad fi l ed t h ei r recu s al m o t i on s . 2 9 8 Ga. at 2 5 8 (3 ) (b ). W e d o n o t arri v e

at t h at res u l t h ere b ecau s e th o s e t wo d efen dan ts h ad fi l ed recu s al m o t i o n s s peci fi cal l y

b as ed o n s t at em en t s t h at J u d g e Green m ad e wh il e p res i d i ng o v er t he recu s al h eari n g.

Id . As t h at was n o t t h e b as i s fo r Serd u l a’ s m o t i o n , t h i s res u l t i s n o t req u i red

.

10m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

, wh i ch al l eg ed t h at t ri al co u n s el was i n effect iv e. Ho wev er, t h e

s p e ci fi c i s su e o f t ri al co u n s el ’ s p erfo rm an ce i n p res en ti n g t h e recu s al m o t i o n w a s

n ev er rai s ed

, ei t h er i n t h e m o t i o n fo r new t ri al o r at th e h eari n g o n t hat m o t i o n.

Co n s eq u en t l y

, Serd u l a h as wai v ed t h is arg u m en t an d h e i s n o t en t i t l ed to a h eari n g

o n t h i s i s s u e o n rem an d

. See e.g

. , C o o p e r v. S t a te

, 3 2 4 Ga. Ap p

. 4 5 1

, 4 5 6-4 5 7 (3 )

(7 5 1 SE2 d 1 0 2 ) (2 0 1 3 ).

b

. Serd u l a al s o p o si t s t h at t h e co rrect n es s o f t h e reco rd fro m t h e heari n g o n t h e

m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al h as b een “ cal l ed i n t o q ues t i o n ,” n eces s i t at i ng an ev i d en ti ary

h eari n g . W e d i s ag ree.

Serd u l a cl ai m s t h at t h ere i s a p s y ch o lo g i cal rep o rt i n w h i ch i t w as d et erm i n ed

t h at h e was p o s s i bl y su fferi n g f r o m d el us i o n al co m

p u l s i o n s th at wo u l d ren d er h i m

i n co m pet en t t o s t an d t ri al

, an d t h at t ri al co un s el veri fi ed t h i s rep ort d u ri n g cro s s

ex am i n at i o n at t h e h eari n g o n t he m o t i o n fo r n e w t r i al

. Acco rd i n g t o Serd u l a,

h o wev er, h e was t ak en fro m th e co u rt ro o m d u ri n g t h e h eari ng ; h is fi rs t ap p el l at e

co u ns el t h en h el d off-t h e-reco rd d i s c u s s io n s wi t h t h e p ro s ecu t i n g at t orn ey an d t h e

t ri al co u rt reg ard i n g t h e ev i d en ce t o b e i n cl u d ed i n t h e reco rd ; an d a d i fferen t rep o rt

fro m t h e o n e referen ced du ri n g t h e h eari n g w as en t ered i n t o ev i d en ce. T h u s

, Serd u l a

11p o s i t s t h at “ an ad d it i on al h ea r i n g i s req u i red to d et erm i ne t h e accu racy o f t h e

p s y ch o lo g i cal rep o rt t h at i s a p art o f t h e t ri al reco rd .”

A carefu l rev iew o f Serd u l a’s arg u m en t, h o wev er, rev eal s t h at he i s n ot

co n ten d in g t h at t he cert i f i e d r eco rd b efo re u s i s i n co rrect o r t h at wh at t ran s p i red

b el o w i s no t p ro p erl y refl ect ed i n t h e reco rd

. 6 Co m p are S t a t e v. Nej a d

, 2 8 6 Ga. 6 9 5,

6 9 6 -6 9 7 (1 ) (6 9 0 SE2 d 8 46 ) (2 0 1 0) (cert i fi ed t ri al t ran s cri p t d i d n o t refl ect t h at t h e

t ri al j u d ge in fo rm ed d efen d an t o f h i s ri g h t t o t es t i fy an d th at t h e d eci s io n w h et h er to

t es t i fy was t o b e m ad e aft er h e co n s u l t ed wi t h co u ns el ); Pu l l en v. S t a t e

, 1 4 6 Ga. Ap p.

6 6 5

, 6 6 7-6 68 (2 ) (2 4 7 SE2 d 1 2 8 ) (1 9 7 8 ). In so far as Serd ul a i s n ot i n fact ch al l en g i n g

t h e a c c uracy o f t he reco rd t ran s m i t t ed b y t h e t ri al co u rt t o t h i s Co u rt o n ap p eal

, n o

rem an d o r h eari n g i s req u i red o n t h i s i s su e.

c. Serd u la al s o cl ai m s t hat h i s p rev i o u s ap p el lat e co un s el was i n effect i v e i n h i s

ex am i n at i o n o f t ri al co u n sel at t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o ti o n fo r n ew t ri al

.

[C] l ai m s o f i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce o f a p p el l at e co u n sel wh i ch are

p rem i s ed o n o th er cl ai m s t h at are n o t p ro ced u ral ly barred m ay b e rai s ed

6 Th e reco rd b efo re u s co n t ai n s b o t h p s y ch ol o g i cal rep o rt s

. W e al s o n o t e t h at

t h e t ri al co u rt heard b o t h t es t i m o n y an d arg u m en t reg ard i n g t h e fi nd i n g s in t h e rep o rt

wh i ch Serd u l a cl ai m s was n o t en t ered i n t o ev i d en ce.

12o n ap p eal b y n ew ap p el l at e co un s el

. As s u m i n g t h at Ap p el l an t ’ s cl ai m o f

i n effect iv e fi rs t ap p el l at e co u ns el i s p ro p erl y r a i s e d b ecau s e i t i s

p rem i s ed o n a cl ai m n o t p ro ced ural l y b arred

, a rem an d t o t h e t ri al co u rt

fo r an ev i d en t i ary h eari n g wo u ld b e n eces s ary un l es s we can d et erm in e

f r o m t he reco rd th at t h e t wo -p ro n g t es t fo r in effect i v en es s can n o t b e

m et

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i t t ed .) Tep a n ca v. S t a t e

, 2 9 7 Ga. 4 7

, 51 (6 ) (7 7 1 SE2 d

8 7 9 ) (2 0 1 5 ); Ken d

r ick v. S t at e , 1 9 6 Ga. Ap p . 1 82 (3 9 5 SE2 d 6 4 4 ) (1 9 9 0 ).

Serd u l a pres en t s a b l an k et co nt en t i o n t hat h is p rev i ou s ap p e l l at e l awy er was

i n effect i v e i n h is cro s s -ex am i nat i o n of t ri al co u n s el

, b u t h e id en t i f i es n o s p eci fi c

erro rs t o s h o w t hat t h e at t orn ey ’ s p erfo rm an ce was d efi ci en t

. “ In es s en ce, h e l eav es

t h i s Co u rt t o en g ag e i n a g u es s i ng g am e as t o h ow ap p el l at e co u n sel ’ s rep res en t at i o n,

o r rat h er l ack t h ere o f, m i g h t h av e am o u n ted t o i n effect i v e as s i s t an ce.” Tep a n ca

,

s u p ra, 2 97 Ga. at 5 1 (6 ). Th i s al o n e i s i n s u ffi ci en t t o m eet hi s b u rd e n

, a n d we n eed

n o t rem an d fo r an o t h er h eari n g . Id

.

134. L a stly

, Serd u l a s eek s t h e d is q ual i fi cat i o n o f t h e cu rren t Co b b Co u n ty D istr i c t

At t o rn ey

, Vi c Rey n o l d s

, as wel l as hi s en t i re o ffi ce, co n t en d i n g th at at t h e t i m e o f h i s

t ri al , Rey n o l d s was t he l aw p art n er o f h i s t ri al at t o rn ey

. 7

Th ere are t wo g en eral l y reco g ni zed g ro u n d s fo r

d is q u al i fi cat i o n o f a p r o s ecu t i n g at t o rn ey

. Th e fi rs t s u ch

g ro u n d is b as ed o n a co n f l i c t o f i nt eres t

, an d t h e s eco n d

g ro u n d h as been d es cri b ed as “ fo ren s i c m i s co n du ct .” A

co n fl i ct o f in teres t h as b een h el d t o ari s e wh ere th e

p r o s e c u to r prev i o u s l y h as rep res en t ed t h e d efen d an t w i t h

res p ect to t h e o ffen s e ch arg ed

, o r h as co n su l t ed wi t h th e

d efen d an t i n a p ro fes s i o n al cap aci t y wi t h reg ard t h eret o

.

(Ci t a t i o n s o m i t t ed .) W

i l l ia m s v. S t a t e

, 2 5 8 Ga. 3 0 5

, 3 1 4 (2 ) (B) (3 69 SE2 d 2 3 2 )

(1 9 8 8).

Nev ert h el es s

, t h i s arg u m en t p ro v i d es n o t h i n g fo r u s t o rev i ew. A l t h o u g h

Serd u l a p o s i t s t h at t h e cu rren t d i s t ri ct at t o rn ey as s u m ed o ffi ce i n 2 01 2

, t h e reco rd

d o es n o t refl ect t h at Serd u la t h ereaft er m ad e an y req u es t fo r hi s d is q u al i fi cat io n

, ev en

as p o s t-co n v i ct i on p ro ceed in g s co n t in u ed i n t h e t ri al co u rt

. See Mo s ier v. S t a t e Bd

.

7 Serd u la rel i es o n a let t er b ri ef t o t he t ri al co u rt p urp o rt ed ly beari n g t h e

l et t erh ead “ J i m

m y D. Berry

, Vi c Rey n o l d s, At t o rn ey s at l aw,” an d s h o w i ng t h at t h e

t wo at t o rn ey s s h ared a p h y s i cal ad d res s

, p h o n e n u m b er, an d fax n u m

b er. Th i s

d o cu m en t was n o t a p art o f t h e t ri al reco rd

, an d t h u s

, i s n o t i n t h e reco rd b efo re u s

.

14o

f Pa rd o n s & P a r o l es

, 2 1 3 Ga. A p p

. 5 45 (1 ) (4 4 5 SE2 d 5 35 ) (1 99 4 ) (i n ci v i l s u i t

ari s in g fro m p l ai n t i ff’ s cri m i n al p ro secu t i o n

, c o n t en t i o n t h at ju d g e s h o u l d h av e

recu s ed h i m s el f fro m cri m i n a l c as e p res en t ed n ot h i n g fo r ap p el l at e rev i ew s i nce

p l ai n t i ff d i d n o t req u es t recu s al i n t he t ri al co u rt ); S t a t e v. Ha r g i s

, 2 94 Ga. 81 8

, 8 2 1

(1 ) (7 56 SE2 d 5 2 9) (2 0 1 4 ). W e al s o can n o t

, i n t h e fi rs t i ns t an ce, d et erm i n e wh et h er

t h e d i s tri ct at to rn ey ’ s d is q ual i fi cat i o n i s n eces s ary g oi n g fo rward becau s e t h ere i s n o

i n d i cat i o n as t o wh et h er Rey no l d s h ad an y i n vo l v em en t at a l l i n t h e d efen s e o f

Serd u l a’ s cas e p ri o r t o h i s el ect i o n as Co b b Co u n ty Di s t ri ct At t orn ey

. 8

In s u m m ary

, w e v acat e Serd u l a’ s co n v i ct i on s an d rem an d t h i s cas e t o t h e t ri al

co u rt s o t h at t h e recu s al m o t io n as t o J u d g e Green can b e as s i g n ed to an o th er ju d g e

fo r d i s po s i t i o n , co n s is t en t wi t h t h i s o p i n i o n

.

Ju d g men t va ca t ed a nd ca s e r ema n d

ed . Do yl e, P.J., a n d

Rees e, J., co n cu r

.

8 W e no t e t h a t n o t h i n g i n t h i s o pi n i o n s h o u l d b e i n t erp ret ed t o m ean t h at

Ser d ul a i s fo recl o s ed fro m m o v i n g fo r t h e d i s q u al i fi cat i o n o f th e d i s tri ct at t o rn ey

w h en t h i s cas e ret u rn s t o t h e t ri al co u rt fo r fu tu re p ro ceed i n g s

. Fu rt her, we e x p r e s s

n o o p i ni o n o n t h e m eri t s o f an y s u ch m o t io n

.

15