Opinion ID: 1852436
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the trial judge committed reversible error by refusing to recuse himself.

Text: ¶ 70. About half of Payton's brief raises various issues related to the propriety of the trial judge remaining on the case. For clarity, the issues have been combined and are discussed below. ¶ 71. Payton requested on several separate occasions that the trial judge, Circuit Judge Marcus D. Gordon, recuse himself. The judge denied the motion to recuse himself in each instance, save the final one. [10] Payton's basic argument is that he was denied a fair trial because of the trial judge's unreasonable animosity towards Payton's counsel and his vindictiveness toward Payton for having appealed and been granted a new trial. ¶ 72. These allegations carry a heavy burden of proof. A presumption of impartiality exists that a judge, sworn to administer impartial justice, is qualified and unbiased. McBride v. Meridian Pub. Improvement Corp., 730 So.2d 548, 551 (Miss.1998). This Court presumes that a trial judge is qualified and unbiased, and this presumption may only be overcome by evidence which produces a reasonable doubt about the validity of the presumption. Bredemeier v. Jackson, 689 So.2d 770, 774 (Miss.1997). ¶ 73. Under Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, an appellate court uses an objective standard in deciding whether a judge should have disqualified himself from hearing a case. A judge is required to disqualify himself if a reasonable person, knowing all the circumstances, would harbor doubts about his impartiality. Taylor v. State, 789 So.2d 787, 797 (Miss.2001). When a judge is not disqualified under the constitutional or statutory provisions, the decision is left up to each individual judge and is subject to review only in a case of manifest abuse of discretion. Id. at 797; Buchanan v. Buchanan, 587 So.2d 892, 895 (Miss.1991). ¶ 74. When this Court is asked to review the denial of recusal, it will look to the whole trial and pass upon questions on appeal in the light of the completed trial. Every act and movement had during the entire trial will be considered, and if we are unable to find that rulings have been prejudicial to the defendant, we will not reverse. Brown v. State, 829 So.2d 93, 99 (Miss.2002) (quoting Adams v. State, 220 Miss. 812, 817, 72 So.2d 211, 213-14 (1954)). ¶ 75. With these principles as a guide, we proceed to address the issues raised by Payton.
¶ 76. As in the first trial, co-defendant Graves testified that Payton was the mastermind behind the robbery. Graves further testified that after Payton's conviction in the first trial was reversed, Payton threatened his family if Graves did not change his testimony in order to help Payton. Graves claimed that Payton forced him to rewrite and sign a document that Payton had written. A portion of the document referred to the trial judge, claiming that he and the district attorney were unfairly prosecuting Payton, who was innocent. On cross-examination, Payton used the document written by Graves to impeach his testimony that Payton planned and participated in the robbery. ¶ 77. On redirect, the State questioned Graves about the signed statement. The following exchange occurred: Q: Also, it says here that, Judge Marcus Gordon stated during the taking of my plea, that he would uphold my sentence of thirty years until I came back to Court to testify against Henry Payton, and, if my testimony was not able to bring a conviction of Henry Payton, he would revoke my time given thereupon, take me to trial, and trying me for the maximum sentence. Did Judge Gordon ever do anything like that? A: No, sir. Q: Who told you to write that down? A: It was Henry. Q: All right. Did Judge Gordon do anything at all to make you do anything? A: No, sir. Q: Now, it says here. This whole situation from beginning to end was orchestrated by Sheriff Jimmy Callahan, Ricky Lewis, District Attorney Ken Turner, and Judge Marcus Gordon to convict Henry Payton. Did I ever do anything to tell you that? A: No, sir. Q: Or did Judge Gordon? A: No, sir. ¶ 78. The State sought to introduce the document. Payton moved that it be excluded from evidence, or in the alternative, if admitted, that the portion about the judge be deleted. The judge admitted that the document in its entirety. Payton moved for a mistrial. The motion was overruled. ¶ 79. Payton argues that the judge erred by overruling his motion for a mistrial. He claims the document showed that the judge had an interest in the outcome of the trial. He argues that [t]he needless introduction of the statement necessitated the Judge's denial of its veracity. This denial was not forthcoming and denied Payton a fair trial. ¶ 80. For support, Payton cites various rules and cases dealing with the disqualification and recusal of a trial judge when there are reasons to doubt his or her impartiality. He argues that Graves's admission that the portion of the document referring to Judge Gordon was false required the judge to deny that he threatened Graves with the maximum sentence if his testimony did not help to convict Payton. ¶ 81. The standard of review for denial of a motion for mistrial is abuse of discretion. Pulphus v. State, 782 So.2d 1220, 1222 (Miss.2001). Judicial rulings alone almost never constitute a valid basis for a bias or partiality motion. Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555, 114 S.Ct. 1147, 1157, 127 L.Ed.2d 474 (1994). A trial judge enjoys a great deal of discretion as to the relevancy and admissibility of evidence. Unless the judge abuses this discretion to the prejudice of the accused, the Court will not reverse this ruling. Gilley v. State, 748 So.2d 123, 126 (Miss.1999). ¶ 82. Miss.Code Ann. § 9-1-11 and the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 Article 6, Section 165 prohibit a judge from hearing a case in which he has an interest. [11] Miss.Code of Judicial Conduct Canon 3 C(1)(a) provides: (1) a judge should disqualify himself in a proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned including but not limited to instances where: (a) he has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party, or personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceeding; In Collins v. Dixie Transport, Inc., 543 So.2d 160, 166 (Miss.1989), this Court held that when examining the conduct of a judge the canons enjoy the same status as that of law. ¶ 83. Payton argues that he took great pains not to ask Graves about those portions of the document that mentioned the judge because he felt they were not relevant and unduly prejudicial to a fair trial. Payton claims he did not want to cause harm or delay to the proceedings or ill repute to the judge. ¶ 84. If a party wishes to cross-examine a witness as to a prior out-of-court statement (usually made by the witness himself), he will not be permitted to pick out the part favorable to himself and leave it there. The opposing party is permitted to offer the entire statement into evidence in order to give the jury a complete picture. Sanders v. State, 237 Miss. 772, 115 So.2d 145 (1959); Davis v. State, 230 Miss. 183, 92 So.2d 359 (1957). ¶ 85. M.R.E. 106 is a codification of this common law rule. It states: When a writing or recorded statement or part thereof is introduced by a party, an adverse party may require him at that time to introduce any other part or any other writing or recorded statement which ought in fairness to be considered contemporaneously with it. The comment to Rule 106 states: Such a rule attempts to prevent misleading the jury by taking evidence out of context. However, rule 106 does not necessarily require that when a witness is questioned about a prior written or recorded statement that all the remainder must be offered into evidence, but only that part which ought in fairness to be considered. Welch v. State, 566 So.2d 680, 690 (Miss.1990). ¶ 86. Moreover, even if evidence is otherwise inadmissible, one party can open the door to its admission. Crenshaw v. State, 520 So.2d 131, 133 (Miss.1988); Washington v. State, 726 So.2d at 216 (Miss.Ct.App.1998). We have previously said that [i]f a defendant opens the door to line of testimony, ordinarily he may not complain about the prosecutor's decision to accept the benevolent invitation to cross the threshold. Randall v. State, 806 So.2d 185, 198 (Miss.2001) (citing Doby v. State, 557 So.2d 533, 539 (Miss.1990)). See also Reddix v. State, 381 So.2d 999, 1009 (Miss.1980) (If the defendant goes fishing in the state's waters, he must take such fish as he catches.). ¶ 87. We conclude that the portion of the statement referring to Judge Gordon was needlessly admitted. It did not help to explain the portion of the document which Payton questioned Graves upon and added nothing relevant to Graves's testimony. However, Payton has failed to demonstrate that the introduction of the entire statement caused him prejudice. He has not shown how the introduction of this statement adversely affected one of his substantial rights. ¶ 88. Merely presenting a document which testimony revealed was inaccurate and written at the behest of Payton is insufficient to establish that the judge had an interest in the outcome. Payton does not explain what benefit, other than to disqualify the judge, [12] this testimony would have been to his case, or how he was prejudiced by its absence. He simply argues that the prejudice of the statement was patent on its face. It showed the court had an interest in the outcome of the trial. Beyond these assertions, he offers no additional facts or legal authority for support. ¶ 89. Supporting the argument of his issues with reasons and authorities is part of an appellant's burden on appeal. Pate v. State, 419 So.2d 1324, 1325-26 (Miss.1982). Mere speculation is not sufficient to raise a reasonable doubt as to the validity of the presumption that the trial judge was qualified and unbiased. Walls v. Spell, 722 So.2d 566, 571-72 (Miss.1998) (citing Turner v. State, 573 So.2d at 678). Payton has failed to meet his burden. ¶ 90. This assignment is without merit.
¶ 91. Payton argues that Judge Gordon should have recused himself because his agitation at Payton's counsel created an atmosphere of disadvantage to Payton and prejudiced the trial. He bases this conclusion on, inter alia, events which occurred on March 6, 2001, the third day of trial. The trial was to begin at 8:00 a.m. Payton's counsel was late, and Judge Gordon fined him $ 25. Payton argued that Judge Gordon had become so upset that he could not be objective. He argues that the judge had contempt for his counsel. He moved for the judge to recuse himself and for another judge to finish the trial. The motion was denied. ¶ 92. Beyond the fact that the judge fined him $25, Payton points to the fact that the judge refused to wait five minutes to see what Payton's counsel's concerns were; that the judge denied him a sentencing hearing; sentenced him to a term that exceeded his life expectancy; and found his counsel in contempt for an innocuous comment. This Court has adopted an objective standard for determining when a judge should recuse himself. A judge is required to disqualify himself if a reasonable person, knowing all the circumstances, would harbor doubts about his impartiality. Hunter v. State, 684 So.2d 625, 630 (Miss.1996). When a judge is not disqualified under the constitution or statute, the propriety of his or her sitting is a question to be decided by the judge and is subject to review only in cases of manifest abuse of discretion. Id. at 630. Payton has failed to demonstrate an abuse of discretion.