Court Opinion

ID: 9724742
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 11:11:15.621842+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:05.378364
License: Public Domain

DeBRULER, Justice,
dissenting.
Indiana Post-Conviction Rule 1(4)(b) requires that an affidavit for change of judge contain (1) a statement that there is a belief that the judge has a personal bias and prejudice against the petitioner and (2) a statement of facts and reasons for such belief. The rule rejects the proposition that there should be an automatic change of venue in post-conviction cases. I construe this rule to require the trial judge to read the affidavit, consider the historical facts asserted therein as true, and determine whether the facts so considered as true support a rational inference of bias or prejudice. If they do, the motion should be granted irrespective of the actual belief of the judge that he does not have a disqualifying bias or prejudice. If they do not, the motion should be denied and, upon appeal, the appellate court should apply the same test. If, of course, the judge actually has a disqualifying bias, self-recusal is the only course.
Here the facts asserted are that the trial judge presided at the trial and sentenced petitioner to death. Another affidavit stated that the judge had more than one ex parte conversation with the prosecuting attorney about his case. Assuming that these factual assertions are true, they do not support a rational deduction that the judge has a personal bias or prejudice against petitioner. I would deny the writ because the affidavits do not satisfy the requirements of the rule and for the further reason that if the law countenances an original action to review a ruling on a motion for change of venue under the post-conviction rule, that law should be overruled for the reason that appellate rights under these circumstances are surely adequate to assure the right to fair and impartial judge.
GIVAN, J., concurs.