Court Opinion

ID: 3015324
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-13 22:11:26.48311+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:05:09.095825
License: Public Domain

Opinions of the United
2005 Decisions                                                                                                             States Court of Appeals
                                                                                                                              for the Third Circuit

8-15-2005

In Re: Drew Bradford
Precedential or Non-Precedential: Non-Precedential

Docket No. 05-3603

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Recommended Citation
"In Re: Drew Bradford " (2005). 2005 Decisions. Paper 700.
http://digitalcommons.law.villanova.edu/thirdcircuit_2005/700

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BPS-328                                                         NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                        UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                             FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

                                       NO. 05-3603
                                    ________________

                              IN RE: DREW BRADFORD,
                                              Petitioner
                                  __________________

                       On Petition for Writ of Mandamus from the
                United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
                       (Related to D. N.J. Civ. No. 05-cv-00421)
                      District Judge: Honorable Stanley R. Chesler
                                  __________________

                       Submitted Under Rule 21, Fed. R. App. Pro.
                                   August 4, 2005

       BEFORE: RENDELL, FISHER and VAN ANTWERPEN, Circuit Judges

                                 (Filed : August 15, 2005)

                               _______________________

                                      OPINION
                               _______________________

PER CURIAM

       Drew Bradford, proceeding pro se, has filed a petition for a writ of mandamus

seeking review of a District Court judge’s refusal to recuse himself from presiding over

Bradford’s civil rights action. For the reasons that follow, we will deny the petition.

       Bradford filed a complaint in New Jersey state court against a law firm, lawyers,

police officers and other individuals in connection with criminal charges brought against

him which he claims are false. The defendants removed the complaint, which alleges
violations of Bradford’s federal constitutional rights to free speech and equal protection

under the law, to federal court.

       Bradford moved for the recusal of District Court Judge Stanley Chesler. He

argued that Judge Chesler and his staff are potential witnesses for the defendants in

connection with their counterclaim against him. The defendants filed three counterclaims

against Bradford, including a claim that he violated their fair access to the courts by

intimidating the court staff and attempting to intimidate judges. The defendants alleged

that Bradford made baseless allegations against Judge Chesler and his staff.1

       In denying Bradford’s latest recusal motion, the District Court noted that under 28

U.S.C. § 455, personal bias creates a duty to recuse where the court’s actions reveal such

a high degree of favoritism or antagonism as to make fair judgment impossible, and that

Bradford’s allegations did not reveal such favoritism or antagonism. The District Court

Judge also noted that, contrary to Bradford’s additional allegation, he had no knowledge

that one of the defendants supported him in his appointment as a Magistrate Judge, or any

other position of employment.

       Mandamus is a proper means for the Court to review the denial of a recusal motion

filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 455. Alexander v. Primerica Holdings, Inc. 10 F.3d 155,

   1
    In an earlier recusal motion, Bradford alleged that after he left a message on the
Judge’s office answering machine regarding his case, a person from chambers called him,
and threatened to call the United States Marshall if he called the office again. He also
alleged that a member of the defendant law firm recommended Judge Chesler to be a
Magistrate Judge. The District Court denied the recusal motion, and we denied
Bradford’s related mandamus petition on June 27, 2005.

                                              2
163 (3d Cir. 1993). We review a judge’s decision not to recuse himself for an abuse of

discretion. In re Antar, 71 F.3d 97, 101 (3d Cir. 1995). Our inquiry focuses on whether

the record, viewed objectively, reasonably supports the appearance of prejudice or bias.

Id.

          The record does not reasonably support the appearance of prejudice or bias on the

part of Judge Chesler. We believe Judge Chesler will be able to fairly adjudicate the

defendants’ claim that Bradford’s actions, including his allegations against the Judge and

his staff, are denying them fair access to the courts. In addition, as we stated previously,

Bradford’s unsubstantiated allegation that a member of the defendant law firm supported

Judge Chesler for the position of Magistrate Judge does not warrant mandamus relief.

Judge Chesler did not abuse his discretion is denying the recusal motion.

          Accordingly, we will deny the petition for a writ of mandamus.2

      2
    To the extent Bradford sought the recusal of Judge Chesler pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§ 144, mandamus does not lie to review the denial of such a recusal motion. In re School
Asbestos Litigation, 977 F.2d 764, 776 (3d Cir. 1992).

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