Aaron v. Hobbs et al

Filing 89

ORDER denying 73 Motion to Withdraw 82 MOTION for Recusal, and second 83 MOTION for Recusal. Signed by Judge Kristine G. Baker on 02/12/2014. (rhm)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
PINE BLUFF DIVISION
BARRY G. AARON,
ADC #97176
v.

PLAINTIFF

Case No. 5:13-cv-00139-KGB-JTK

RAY HOBBS, et al.

DEFENDANTS
ORDER

Before the Court is plaintiff Barry G. Aaron’s motion to withdraw consent (Dkt. No. 73),
motion for recusal (Dkt. No. 82), and second motion for recusal (Dkt. No. 83). In his motion to
withdraw consent, Mr. Aaron requests “that his consent be rendered moot and authority
transferred to United States Judge Kristine G. Baker, for any other rulings on this civil action”
(Dkt. No. 73). Mr. Aaron admits, however, that he signed a consent form to allow Magistrate
Judge Jerome T. Kearney to preside over, and make rulings regarding, his case.
Under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1), a civil action may be referred to a magistrate judge upon
consent of the parties. Although Mr. Aaron admits he gave consent, this action was not referred
to Judge Kearney under § 636(c)(1). Instead, it was referred under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B).
This provision does not require a party’s consent for referral. By enacting § 636(b)(1)(B),
“Congress authorized the nonconsensual referral to magistrates for a hearing and recommended
findings ‘of prisoner petitions challenging conditions of confinement.’” McCarthy v. Bronson,
500 U.S. 136, 137 (1991) (quoting § 636(b)(1)(B)). Accordingly, Mr. Aaron’s withdrawal of
consent does not divest Judge Kearney of authority to make rulings appropriate under § 636(b)
and Local Rule 72.1.
Even if this case had been referred under § 636(c)(1), once consent to proceed before a
magistrate judge is given under § 636(c)(1), there is no absolute right to withdraw that consent.

See Fellman v. Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co., 735 F.2d 55, 58 (2d Cir. 1984); Carter v. Sea Land
Servs., Inc., 816 F.2d 1018, 1020-21 (5th Cir. 1987); Dixon v. Ylst, 990 F.2d 478, 480 (9th Cir.
1993). Rather, a party must show “extraordinary circumstances” for such withdrawal. 28 U.S.C.
§ 636(c)(4). Mr. Aaron has not demonstrated extraordinary circumstances for withdrawal of his
consent.
In his motions for recusal, Mr. Aaron requests that Judge Kearney “dismiss himself from
this civil action” but that “this motion and brief in support be presented to” this Court for a ruling
(Dkt. No. 82, at 3; see Dkt. No. 83, at 2). A magistrate judge “shall disqualify himself in any
proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned” or “[w]here he has a
personal bias or prejudice concerning a party, or personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary
facts concerning the proceeding.” 28 U.S.C. § 455(a), (b)(1). In support of his motion for
recusal, Mr. Aaron explains that, in all of Judge Kearney’s orders, he “has ruled in favor of the
defendants” (Dkt. No. 82, at 2; see Dkt. No. 83, at 1); he provides no other evidence of
impartiality, bias, or prejudice. Adverse rulings neither establish judicial bias or prejudice nor
create a reasonable question of judicial impartiality. United States v. Oaks, 606 F.3d 530, 537
(8th Cir. 2010) (citing United States v. Schwartz, 535 F.2d 160, 165 (2d Cir. 1976)); Lefkowitz v.
Citi-Equity Grp., Inc., 146 F.3d 609, 611-612 (8th Cir. 1998) (citing Liteky v. United States, 510
U.S. 540, 549, 555 (1994)).
It is therefore ordered that Mr. Aaron’s motion to withdraw consent (Dkt. No. 73),
motion for recusal (Dkt. No. 82), and second motion for recusal (Dkt. No. 83) are hereby denied.

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SO ORDERED this the 12th day of February, 2014.

________________________________
KRISTINE G. BAKER
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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