Case Name: In re Disqualification of Kilbane: The State of Ohio v. Northern
Court: Supreme Court of Ohio
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1989-02-10
Citations: 42 Ohio St. 3d 602
Docket Number: No. 88-AP-175
Parties: In re Disqualification of Kilbane: The State of Ohio v. Northern.
Judges: 
Reporter: Ohio State Reports, Third Service
Volume: 42
Pages: 602–602

Head Matter:
In re Disqualification of Kilbane: The State of Ohio v. Northern.
[Cite as In re Disqualification of Kilbane (1989), 42 Ohio St. 3d 602.]
(No. 88-AP-175
Submitted February 10, 1989
Decided February 10, 1989.)

Opinion:
Moyer, C.J.
The affidavit of disqualification filed herein by petitioner-defendant, Wallace Northern, seeks the disqualification of Judge James P. Kilbane from ruling upon affiant's petition for post-conviction relief arising from his 1976 conviction. The affidavit in essence alleges that certain actions by Judge Kilbane deprived affiant of a fair trial.
A judge is presumed to follow applicable law in all respects. In re Disqualification of Grigsby (1988), 36 Ohio St. 3d 607, 522 N.E. 2d 461. Alleged errors of law or procedure are legal issues subject to appeal and are not grounds for the disqualification of a judge. In re Disqualification of Light (1988), 36 Ohio St. 3d 604, 522 N.E. 2d 458.
In the absence of evidence of bias, prejudice, or other factors, a judge who presided at trial is not automatically disqualified from hearing a petitioner's motion to vacate or set aside his sentence. Walters v. United States (S.D.N.Y. 1975), 404 F. Supp. 996, affirmed (C.A. 2, 1976), 542 F. 2d 1166; Schoonover v. State (1978), 2 Kan. App. 2d 481, 483, 582 P. 2d 292, 295. I find no evidence of such bias, prejudice, or other disqualifying factors in the record.
For the foregoing reasons, the affidavit of disqualification is found not well-taken and is hereby dismissed.