Opinion ID: 2521294
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Julien's Disqualification Motion

Text: Section 16-6-201 and Crim. P. 21 address disqualification motions. If the facts of two affidavits state grounds for disqualification, the judge must disqualify himself or herself: A motion for change of judge on any ground must be verified and supported by the affidavits of at least two credible persons not related to the defendant, stating facts showing the existence of grounds for disqualification. If the verified motion and supporting affidavits state facts showing grounds for disqualification, the judge must enter an order disqualifying himself. After disqualifying himself, the judge may require a full hearing upon the issues raised by the affidavits and shall request that another judge conduct the hearing. The other judge shall make findings of fact with regard thereto, and such findings shall be included as a part of the trial court record. § 16-6-201, 6 C.R.S. (2001). Upon the filing of a motion under this section (b) [substitution of judges], all other proceedings in the case shall be suspended until a ruling is made thereon. If the motion and supporting affidavits state facts showing grounds for disqualification, the judge shall immediately enter an order disqualifying himself or herself. Upon disqualifying himself or herself, the judge shall notify forthwith the chief judge of the district, who shall assign another judge in the district to hear the action. Crim. P. 21(b)(3). In ruling on the disqualification motion, a judge must accept as true the factual statements contained in the motion and affidavits. People v. Botham, 629 P.2d 589, 595 (Colo.1981). The judge must determine as a matter of law whether they allege legally sufficient facts for disqualification. S.S. v. Wakefield, 764 P.2d 70, 73 (Colo.1988). Julien did not contend that Judge Schwartz had any actual bias or prejudice against him or any disqualifying interest in the case. Instead, as conclusive evidence of an appearance of bias, Julien relied on the fact that Judge Schwartz had been employed by the district attorney's office as a team leader five weeks before his assignment to Julien's case. Of itself, Judge Schwartz's previous employment as a member of the district attorney's office did not mandate his recusal sua sponte or in response to Julien's motion. Canon 3(C)(1) does not impute the knowledge of government attorneys to other attorneys in that office, and Colorado has no bright-line rule that imposes a waiting period before one may serve as a judge in cases involving the judge's former office. The statutes and rules contain no provision requiring a judge to disclose or disqualify himself sua sponte for an association that Canon 3(C)(1) excepts as a basis for disqualification. [5] Neither Judge Schwartz nor Judge Martinez found any involvement with Julien's case in Judge Schwartz's former capacity as a prosecutor. Had Judge Schwartz personally participated in the prosecution of Julien's case in any way, including having been in a supervisory capacity over attorneys conducting the investigation or prosecution, or had the judge gained personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts during his former association with the district attorney's office, [6] Canon 3(C)(1) would have disqualified him from serving as a judge in this case. Julien raised no basis for disqualifying Judge Schwartz under Canon 3, Crim. P. 21(b)(3), or section 16-6-201(3), but the appearance of bias can be damaging to public confidence in the administration of the court system. Botham, 629 P.2d at 595. When Julien made his disqualification motion after his conviction and before sentencing, Judge Schwartz, after determining that no basis for disqualification existed, suspended further proceedings and sent the matter to Judge Martinez for a ruling on substitution of judge. Taking the allegations Julien made through his affidavit as being true, Judge Martinez determined that there's been no showing that Judge Schwartz supervised [the prosecutor], that Judge Schwartz was involved in any way in the case, that Judge Schwartz investigated the case, that he was a team leader of anybody who in fact was in the case. The affidavit does not show any kind of involvement whatsoever of Judge Schwartz.  (Emphasis added.) The record does not support any basis for Judge Schwartz's disqualification. The court of appeals erred by imputing the knowledge of other deputy district attorneys in the office to Judge Schwartz and reversing Julien's conviction, based only on the judge's prior association with that office. [7]