Opinion ID: 787272
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: References

Text: 50 Focus also alleges that the bankruptcy judge improperly referred to the judicial misconduct complaint filed against her by Focus' chief financial officer, Thomas Sullivan, and to possible misconduct by Focus' principals. But these references, like the bankruptcy court's substantive rulings, related to the merits of the bankruptcy proceedings. 51 Sullivan filed the judicial misconduct complaint with the Judicial Council of this circuit. The relevant statute provides that a copy of any such complaint shall be provided to the judge whose conduct is the subject of the complaint. See 28 U.S.C. § 351(c). The bankruptcy judge explained that because the complaint contained information and allegations relevant to the bankruptcy proceedings — specifically, Sullivan's characterization of the bankruptcy proceedings up to the filing of the complaint — she provided a copy of it to the petitioning creditors. She also permitted the petitioning creditors to question Sullivan about his assertions in the complaint, in particular his contention that the bankruptcy judge had repeatedly relinquished control over the defense of this contested case to [the] interim trustee. When asked to support this contention, Sullivan invoked his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Subsequently, in assessing Sullivan's credibility, the bankruptcy judge cited the complaint (but not Sullivan's invocation of the Fifth Amendment) — among other, damaging statements by Sullivan — in concluding that he could not be believed. Although the situation was perhaps unusual, a reasonable person with knowledge of all the facts would conclude that the bankruptcy judge referred to the judicial misconduct complaint because she had concluded that Sullivan's factual allegations in the complaint undermined his credibility, not because the complaint itself biased the bankruptcy judge against Focus. Absent some evidence of real bias, we are not prepared to infer bias lest we open the door to misuse of the judicial misconduct complaint process as a means of removing a disfavored judge from a case. 52 The bankruptcy judge also alluded to the possibility that Focus' principals might have impeded discovery and improperly disbursed Focus' assets. Such potential malfeasance was relevant to the bankruptcy proceedings, however, because of the bankruptcy judge's role in assessing whether discovery sanctions were appropriate and whether Focus' assets were being properly kept and accounted for. Although Focus contends that no malfeasance occurred, it cannot reasonably argue that the issue was irrelevant to a proceeding designed to ensure the proper disposition of Focus' assets. The bankruptcy judge's references to Focus' potential malfeasance do not, therefore, provide a basis for questioning her impartiality.