Opinion ID: 1727369
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the circuit court judge erred in failing to recuse himself from the case sua sponte in light of the judge's prejudice against appellant.

Text: ¶ 5. Tubwell argues that Judge Gray Evans should have recused himself from this case sua sponte since he had done just that in two prior cases, including one criminal case due to the fact that Tubwell had at one time filed and prosecuted a civil action against Evans. Tubwell further states that Judge Evans's order in this case shows his personal animosity toward him. ¶ 6. The State rebuts by claiming that the fact that Judge Evans has recused himself on two prior occasions involving Tubwell should not automatically raise the presumption that he should have recused himself from the instant case. The State contends that, since Judge Evans has not hesitated in the past to recuse himself from cases involving Tubwell, he must have felt that he could rule on this case in an impartial and unbiased manner. ¶ 7. The law surrounding the recusal of a judge in Mississippi is well settled. Under Canon 3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct, an appellate court, in deciding whether a judge should have disqualified himself from hearing a case uses an objective standard. A judge is required to disqualify himself if a reasonable person, knowing all the circumstances, would harbor doubts about his impartiality. Jenkins v. Forrest County Gen. Hosp., 542 So.2d 1180, 1181 (Miss. 1988). The decision to recuse or not to recuse is one left to the sound discretion of the trial judge, so long as he applies the correct legal standards and is consistent in the application. Collins v. Joshi, 611 So.2d 898, 902 (Miss.1992). This Court presumes that a trial judge is qualified and unbiased, and this presumption may only be overcome by evidence which produces a reasonable doubt about the validity of the presumption. Bredemeier v. Jackson, 689 So.2d 770, 774 (Miss.1997). When a judge is not disqualified under the constitutional or statutory provisions the decision is left up to each individual judge and is subject to review only in a case of manifest abuse of discretion. Buchanan v. Buchanan, 587 So.2d 892, 895 (Miss.1991). ¶ 8. Tubwell failed to object or file a motion asking for Judge Evans to recuse himself. This argument was not raised until his appeal, which procedurally bars Tubwell from arguing the issue in this case. Over the years, this Court has been quick to point out that it will not allow a party to take his chances with a judge about whom he knows of grounds for recusal and then, after he loses, file his motion. Buchanan, 587 So.2d at 892. Where the party knew of the grounds for the motion or with the exercise of reasonable diligence may have discovered those grounds, and where that party does not move timely prior to trial, the point will be deemed waived. Ryals v. Pigott, 580 So.2d 1140, 1175-76 (Miss.1990); City of Biloxi v. Cawley, 332 So.2d 749, 750 (Miss.1976); McCune v. Commercial Publ'g Co., 148 Miss. 164, 172, 114 So. 268, 269 (1927). This Court has consistently held that failing to object to a trial judge's appearance in a case can result in a waiver. Foster v. State, 716 So.2d 538, 540 (Miss.1998); Banana v. State, 635 So.2d 851, 853 (Miss. 1994)(where trial judge disclosed previous service as District Attorney for appellant's indictment and arraignment, the appellant waived this issue by entering his voluntary plea of guilty). See also Wells v. State, 698 So.2d 497, 514 (Miss.1997)(Any claim is waived for failure to raise a contemporaneous objection.). ¶ 9. As a result of Tubwell's untimely objection, this assignment of error fails.