Opinion ID: 2972914
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Motion to Recuse

Text: Jamieson alleges that the district court erred in denying his motion to recuse, citing 28 U.S.C. § 455(b)(1) and claiming that the district judge could not preside over his criminal trial because he had “personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceeding” gained from the fact that he was also handling a civil case against Jamieson. The civil action involved a receivership, into which recoveries in the criminal case would be deposited. Jamieson contends that from this participation in the civil case, the district judge gained “personal knowledge” of relevant disputed facts in the criminal case. In order to justify recusal under 28 U.S.C. § 455, the judge’s prejudice or bias must be personal or extrajudicial. See United States v. Hartsel, 199 F.3d 812, 820 (6th Cir. 1999). “‘Personal’ bias is prejudice that emanates from some source other than participation in the proceedings or prior contact with related cases.” Youn v. Track, Inc., 324 F.3d 409, 423 (6th Cir. 2003). Jamieson makes no allegation that the district judge in this case had knowledge resulting from any extrajudicial activities or exposure; all the information known by the judge came from his judicial involvement with related cases, not from any extrajudicial or personal sources. Furthermore, Jamieson does not “point to any specific facts [the district court] obtained from presiding over [the other cases] which would raise a question about his impartiality.” See Hartsel, 199 F.3d at 820. Nor does Jamieson identify any rulings or actions during the criminal trial that indicate partiality or the use of “personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts” on the part of the district judge. In short, Jamieson has given us no reason to find that the district court abused its discretion in denying his motion to recuse. Nos. 02-3403; 03-4578 United States v. Jamieson Page 7