Opinion ID: 2636236
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: Motion for recusal and motion for disqualification

Text: On appeal, Ms. Rivero asserts that the district court abused its discretion when Judge Miley refused to recuse herself and when it denied Ms. Rivero's motion to disqualify Judge Miley. Ms. Rivero argues that Judge Miley's behavior demonstrated that she was not open minded enough to consider all of the evidence or controlling law. According to Ms. Rivero, the district court abused its discretion in not allowing her to file a reply to Mr. Rivero's opposition to the motion to disqualify and by not permitting her to argue the merits at the hearing. We disagree. This court gives substantial weight to a judge's decision not to recuse herself and will not overturn such a decision absent a clear abuse of discretion. [44] A judge is presumed to be unbiased, and the burden is on the party asserting the challenge to establish sufficient factual grounds warranting disqualification. [45] A judge cannot preside over an action or proceeding if he or she is biased or prejudiced against one of the parties to the action. [46] To disqualify a judge based on personal bias, the moving party must allege bias that `stem[s] from an extrajudicial source and result[s] in an opinion on the merits on some basis other than what the judge learned from his participation in the case.' [47] [W]here the challenge fails to allege legally cognizable grounds supporting a reasonable inference of bias or prejudice, a court should summarily dismiss a motion to disqualify a judge. [48] In this case, Ms. Rivero's allegation that Judge Miley's bias was based on the appearance of the parties is not supported by any evidence in the record and, thus, does not establish a legally cognizable ground for disqualification. Accordingly, we conclude that Judge Miley did not abuse her discretion when she refused to recuse herself and that Chief Judge Hardcastle properly denied Ms. Rivero's motion to disqualify Judge Miley without considering a reply from Ms. Rivero or holding a hearing on the motion.