Opinion ID: 782573
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Law Governing Judicial Recusal

Text: 3 A federal judge must disqualify himself from consideration of a case if a person within the third degree of relationship [i]s acting as a lawyer in the proceeding(.) 28 U.S.C. § 455(b)(5)(ii); McCuin v. Texas Power & Light Co., 714 F.2d 1255, 1260 (5th Cir.1983). Further, a judge must recuse if such a family member [i]s known by the judge to have an interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding. 28 U.S.C. § 455(b)(5)(iii). That a relative within the proscribed proximity stands to benefit financially as a partner in a participating firm — even if the relative is not himself involved — is sufficient to require recusal. Potashnick v. Port City Const. Co., 609 F.2d 1101, 1113 (5th Cir.1980). 1 In this case, petitioner Price is the nephew of Chief Judge U.W. Clemon of the Northern District of Alabama, and is a full partner in LMPP. There is thus no dispute that, under Sections 455(b)(5)(ii) and 455(b)(5)(iii), Judge Clemon may not hear cases in which Price or LMPP is acting as counsel. 4