Opinion ID: 2514846
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Braun's claim of bias fails.

Text: Braun's next claim is a general allegation of bias and judicial misconduct on the part of the judges who have presided over his various lawsuits: The record indicates that [t]rial [c]ourt [j]udges were manifestly erroneous, not impartial, and have facilitated efforts to avoid discovery and cover up evidence of illegal actions by the State of Alaska and the Denali Borough. I argue that some in the Fairbanks Court are aiding the State of Alaska, the Denali Borough and Mr. Walleri in an attempt to quash my appeal before this court. Braun also accuses his former attorney of deliberately withholding crucial evidence and claims that permitting the attorney to withdraw from his cases without appointing a replacement was an example of misconduct on the part of the courts involved. [71] The overall plan, Braun asserts, appears to be to narrow the focus and withhold evidence in [Judge Olsen's case] so that my prosecution of that case fails for lack of evidence. As we have noted, the Alaska Code of Judicial Conduct requires that [i]n the performance of judicial duties, a judge shall act without bias and prejudice and shall not manifest [such bias or prejudice] by words or conduct. [72] Where a judge has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party or a party's lawyer, that judge should be disqualified. [73] But the burden of proof is on the party alleging bias, [74] and the issuance of a ruling adverse to that party is not, in and of itself, sufficient to meet the burden. [75] There is no evidence in the record to suggest that any of the judges involved in Braun's cases were biased against him. Declining to appoint counsel is not an indication of bias here because Braun's claims do not fall within any of the categories of civil cases for which appointment of counsel is required. [76] And we have already concluded that the trial court's treatment of discovery was not error. Furthermore, despite declining to decide the issue, Judge Pengilly actually provided Braun a list of three possible methods of challenging the constitutionality of the Denali Borough voting districts. Braun's claim of bias fails.