Case Name: STATE of Indiana on the Relation of Reynaldo C. RONDON, Relator, v. LAKE SUPERIOR COURT, CRIMINAL DIVISION TWO, and the Honorable James E. Letsinger as Judge Thereof, Respondents
Court: Supreme Court of Indiana
Jurisdiction: Indiana
Decision Date: 1991-04-10
Citations: 569 N.E.2d 635
Docket Number: No. 45S009010OR643
Parties: STATE of Indiana on the Relation of Reynaldo C. RONDON, Relator, v. LAKE SUPERIOR COURT, CRIMINAL DIVISION TWO, and the Honorable James E. Letsinger as Judge Thereof, Respondents.
Judges: SHEPARD, C.J., and DICKSON and KRAHULIK, JJ., concur.
Reporter: North Eastern Reporter 2d
Volume: 569
Pages: 635–636

Head Matter:
STATE of Indiana on the Relation of Reynaldo C. RONDON, Relator, v. LAKE SUPERIOR COURT, CRIMINAL DIVISION TWO, and the Honorable James E. Letsinger as Judge Thereof, Respondents.
No. 45S009010OR643.
Supreme Court of Indiana.
April 10, 1991.
Judith G. Menadue, Elkhart, James Nicholas Thiros, Merrillville, for relator.
James E. Letsinger, Crown Point, Linley Eugene Pearson, Indianapolis, Jon Ernest DeGuilio, Lake County Prosecutor, James J. Olszewski, Office of the Prosecutor, Tra-ey Edward Page, Crown Point, Arthur Thaddeus Perry, Indianapolis, for respondents.

Opinion:
ORIGINAL ACTION
PER CURIAM.
This Court issued an alternative writ of mandamus directing the Lake Superior Court, Criminal Division Two, and the Honorable James E. Letsinger, as Judge thereof, to recuse himself from hearing Relator's petition for post-conviction relief and to name a panel of judges from which the parties were to choose a judge to hear the petition for post-conviction relief. We now make that writ permanent.
Relator, Reynaldo Rondon, was sentenced to death on May 10, 1985. Subsequent to a direct appeal, Relator filed a petition for post-conviction relief on June 29, 1990. Seven days later, Relator filed his motion for change of judge, along with a certificate of good faith by counsel and supporting affidavits by both Relator and his counsel alleging bias and prejudice on the part of Respondent, the Honorable James E. Letsinger. Respondent denied this motion.
Ind. Post-Conviection Rule 1(4)(b) provides:
Change of venue from the judge shall be granted when the petitioner files, within ten (10) days of the filing of his petition, an affidavit that the Judge has a personal bias or prejudice against petitioner. The affidavit shall state the facts and the reasons for the belief that such bias or prejudice exists, and shall be accompanied by a certificate of good faith of petitioner's counsel. For good cause shown, the petitioner may be permitted to file the affidavit after the ten (10) day period. No change of venue from the county shall be granted.
This Court has said that "[pJrovisions for change of judge are to assure not only that a litigant has an unbiased judge but also to assure that he believes that he has an unbiased judge, ie. that he is being fairly treated." Adams v. State (1978), 268 Ind. 434, 436, 376 N.E.2d 482, 483. If a petitioner files his motion for a change of judge in a timely manner and complies with the form required by the rule, the trial court is obligated to grant the motion. Lombardo v. State (1986), Ind., 499 N.E.2d 1075.
Relator's compliance with the requirements of P-C.R. 1(4)(b) entitles him to a change of judge.
The alternative writ of mandamus issued earlier is now made permanent.
SHEPARD, C.J., and DICKSON and KRAHULIK, JJ., concur.
DeBRULER, J., dissents with opinion in which GIVAN, J., concurs.