Opinion ID: 428381
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Bias or Prejudice

Text: 40 The Foundation contends that it was denied the constitutional guarantee of a fair and impartial tribunal when the district judge made certain comments regarding the disputed historic sites during trial. The Foundation submitted an affidavit of bias and prejudice, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Sec. 144, asserting that the extrajudicial observations indicated prejudgment by the district judge of its request for a preliminary injunction. It is our view that the district judge's conduct fails to show bias or prejudice under section 144. 41 28 U.S.C. Sec. 144 provides in part: Whenever a party to any proceeding in a district court makes and files a timely and sufficient affidavit that the judge before whom the matter is pending has a personal bias or prejudice either against him or in favor of any adverse party, such judge shall proceed no further therein, but another judge shall be assigned to hear such proceeding. 42 The law is clear that [the judge] must determine whether the affidavit is sufficient, if true, to require that he recuse himself. Only if he finds it thus sufficient is he required to have another judge hear the motion. United States v. Olander, 584 F.2d 876, 883 (9th Cir.1978), vacated and remanded on other grounds sub nom., Harrington v. United States, 443 U.S. 914, 99 S.Ct. 3104, 61 L.Ed.2d 878 (1979); United States v. Azhocar, 581 F.2d 735, 738 (9th Cir.1978), cert. denied, 440 U.S. 907, 99 S.Ct. 1213, 59 L.Ed.2d 454 (1979). 43 District Court Judge Walter E. Craig found the Foundation's affidavit of bias and prejudice to be sufficient on its face. 15 The matter was transferred to Chief District Judge Muecke for determination. Judge Muecke denied the motion for recusal and concluded that Judge Craig's remarks did not indicate prejudgment of the issues. Judge Craig's comments were limited to an awareness of the location, use, and estimated age of particular buildings and were not a basis for evidentiary rulings. 16 44 A district judge's refusal to disqualify the sitting judge under 28 U.S.C. Sec. 144 may only be reversed for an abuse of discretion. United States v. Sibla, 624 F.2d 864, 868 (9th Cir.1980). These facts do not disclose an abuse of discretion.