Court Opinion

ID: 9847572
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:02:30.594438+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:20.780608
License: Public Domain

Judge Martin
concurring.
In his dissent, Judge Wells suggests that the appropriate standard to be applied to a motion to disqualify a trial judge is whether the actions of the judge give rise to a reasonable perception in the mind of the defendant that the judge cannot be fair. I disagree. In my view, the burden is upon the party moving for disqualification to demonstrate objectively that grounds for disqualification actually exist. Such a showing must consist of substantial evidence that there exists such a personal bias, prejudice or interest on the part of the judge that he would be unable to rule impartially. See Love v. Pressley, 34 N.C. App. 503, 239 S.E. 2d 574 (1977), disc. rev. denied, 294 N.C. 441, 241 S.E. 2d 843 (1978). Such personal bias is not shown by the mere fact that the judge has presided over other proceedings in which evidence tending to incriminate the present defendant was offered, absent evidence that the prior trial would have a prejudicial effect on the present case. State v. Duvall, 50 N.C. App. 684, 275 S.E. 2d 842, rev’d on other grounds, 304 N.C. 557, 284 S.E. 2d 495 (1981).
The only evidence offered by defendants in the present case was the letter written by Judge Burroughs requesting grand jury consideration of indictments against these defendants. The letter was based on evidence which Judge Burroughs heard in another trial. The letter indicates no personal bias or prejudice on the part of Judge Burroughs nor does it express any opinion on his part as to the defendants’ guilt or innocence of the charges which he requested that the grand jury consider. At most, the letter suggests that some evidence indicating defendants’ involvement with the crimes was introduced at the previous trial and that Judge Burroughs, in the exercise of his judicial obligation to pro*585mote the administration of justice, sought to secure grand jury consideration of that evidence.
If, as Judge Wells asserts, Judge Downs used the wrong standard in disposing of defendants’ motions, defendants are still not entitled to a new trial, as they have failed to show that they have been prejudiced in any respect by the fact that Judge Burroughs presided at their trial. I concur with the result reached by Chief Judge Hedrick.