Case Name: In re Disqualification of Martin: The State of Ohio v. Marsh
Court: Supreme Court of Ohio
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1987-12-17
Citations: 36 Ohio St. 3d 603
Docket Number: No. 87-AP-275
Parties: In re Disqualification of Martin: The State of Ohio v. Marsh.
Judges: 
Reporter: Ohio State Reports, Third Service
Volume: 36
Pages: 603–604

Head Matter:
In re Disqualification of Martin: The State of Ohio v. Marsh.
[Cite as In re Disqualification of Martin (1987), 36 Ohio St. 3d 603.]
(No. 87-AP-275
Decided December 17, 1987.)

Opinion:
Moyer, C.J.
The affidavit of disqualification filed herein alleges that Judge John D. Martin pursues a sentencing pattern which would preclude probation if the defendant, Rick Marsh, is convicted or accepts a plea bargain in case No. 87CRJY0102 in the Court of Common Pleas of Fair-field County.
A judge is presumed to follow applicable law in all respects and "[generally, the severity of a sentence imposed in conformity to the law by a trial court rests in the discretion of that court ." State v. Williams (1982), 7 Ohio App. 3d 160, 162, 7 OBR 204, 207, 454 N.E. 2d 1334, 1337.
If it may later be shown that the judge legally erred by not considering required mitigating factors in impos ing sentence, that is a matter for appeal and not for an affidavit of disqualification. State v. Baker (1984), 25 Ohio Misc. 2d 11, 15, 25 OBR 232, 236, 495 N.E. 2d 976, 980.
Differences in sentences between judges are to be expected and "the possibility of being sentenced by a more severe judge is one of the hazards of wrongdoing." Baker, supra, at 15, 25 OBR at 237, 495 N.E. 2d at 981.
For these reasons, the affidavit is found not well-taken and is hereby dismissed.