Kassem v. Chertoff et al

Filing 85

ORDER on Plaintiffs' Sur-Reply 80 , 81 , signed by Chief Judge Anthony W. Ishii on 9/1/09. (Hellings, J)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE 8 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 9 10 NAGEEB KASSEM, et al., 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 On August 17, 2009, Plaintiffs filed their sur-reply pursuant to the Court's July 29, 2009 21 order, which authorized Plaintiffs to file a sur-reply. Embedded in Plaintiff's approximate 86 22 line footnote, Plaintiffs state: "Plaintiffs make the following comments about the `Order on 23 Plaintiffs' Objections to Court's July 29, 2009 Order Vacating Oral Argument,' since Plaintiffs 24 believe that in the course of conveying permission to file this Sur-Reply, the Court has 25 demonstrated bias against the petitioning parties - - whether originating with Judge Ishii or his 26 law clerk (s) - - which should prompt consideration by Judge Ishii of whether to recuse himself. 27 Plaintiffs's counsel believes that bias on the part of the Court has already contributed to a lack of 28 ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) v. ) ) ) JANET NAPOLITANO, et al., ) ) ) ) Defendants. ) ____________________________________) NO. 1:08-CV-0010-AWI-SMS ORDER ON PLAINTIFFS' SURREPLY (Documents #80 and #81)

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access to justice in this action." See Plaintiffs' Sur-Reply footnote 1 at page 5. The court has reviewed Plaintiffs' comments and finds that Plaintiffs have failed to demonstrate "deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible." See Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555 (1994). 28 U.S.C. § 455(a) provides in pertinent part that: (a) Any justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned. A judge has an affirmative duty to recuse himself "in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned." Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555 (citation omitted). The substantive standard for recusal under 28 U.S.C. § 455 is "whether a reasonable person with knowledge of all the facts would conclude that the judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned." United States v. Hernandez, 109 F.3d 1450, 1453 (9th Cir. 1997). The alleged bias must stem from an "extrajudicial source." Liteky, 510 U.S. at 544-56. Normally, rulings by a court during the course of a case cannot be extra-judicial conduct. See Nilsson, Robbins, Dalgarn, Berliner, Carson & Wurst v. Louisiana Hydrolec, 854 F. 2d 1538, 1548 (9th Cir. 1988); Hasbrouck v. Texaco, Inc., 830 F. 2d 1513, 1523-24 (9th Cir. 1987). Judicial bias or prejudice formed during current or prior proceedings is sufficient for recusal only when the judge's actions "display a deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible." Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555; Pesnell v. Arsenault, 543 F.3d 1038, 1044 (9th Cir. 2008). However, "expressions of impatience, dissatisfaction, annoyance, and even anger" are not grounds for establishing bias or impartiality, nor are a judge's efforts at courtroom administration. Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555-56; Pesnell, 543 F.3d at 1044. Judicial rulings may support a motion for recusal only "in the rarest of circumstances." Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555; United States v. Chischilly, 30 F.3d 1144, 1149 (9th Cir.1994). Plaintiffs do not allege any extrajudicial source for the undersigned's alleged bias. Nor

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do Plaintiffs demonstrate such a deep-seated favoritism on the part of the undersigned as to make fair judgment impossible. Accordingly, Plaintiffs have failed to show that they cannot receive an impartial, fair judgment from the undersigned in this matter. However, to the extent that Plaintiffs would like to file a formal motion for recusal, the Court will, of course, review it.

IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: 0m8i78 September 1, 2009 /s/ Anthony W. Ishii CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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