Garcia v. USA
Filing
174
MEMORANDUM and ORDER denying Movant Edgar Baltazar Garcia's 160 Joint Motion for Recusal.. Signed by District Judge Marcia A. Crone on 6/28/2023. (bjc, )
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 1 of 29 PageID #:
165264
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EDGAR BALTAZAR GARCIA,
Petitioner,
versus
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Respondent.
EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
§
CIVIL ACTION NO. 1:13-CV-723
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Before the court is Movant Edgar Baltazar Garcia’s (“Movant”) Joint Motion and
Memorandum in Support of Motion of Recusal (“Motion to Recuse”) (#160)1. Movant seeks to
recuse the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 455. More specifically, Movant seeks recusal
pursuant to Sections 455(a), (b)(1), and (b)(5)(iv). He contends that the undersigned should be
recused because of what Movant believes to be irregularities in the creation of the jury wheel for
the selection of Movant’s petit jury for his 2010 federal death penalty criminal trial in Cause No.
1:09-cr-15(2), United States of America v. Edgar Baltazar Garcia. He ultimately asserts that the
creation of the jury wheel—from which the venire persons were randomly selected—does not
comport with the provisions of the Jury Service and Selection Act of 1968 (“JSSA”), 28 U.S.C.
§§ 1861-78, et seq., and that his Sixth Amendment right—to a venire pool drawn from a jury
wheel that represents a fair cross-section of the community—was violated.
1
The pending motion states: “Mr. Garcia and Mr. Snarr respectfully jointly move for recusal of
Judge Crone,” yet Movant and Mark Isaac Snarr filed separate motions regarding recusal in their
respective habeas proceedings. See Edgar Baltazar Garcia v. United States of America, Cause No. 1:13cv-723 (“No. 1:13-cv-723”), #160; Mark Isaac Snarr v. United States of America, Cause No. 1:13-cv724, #146. Accordingly, the court will rule on the motions separately.
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 2 of 29 PageID #:
165265
This matter is currently before the court on federal habeas review, rather than on the eve
of trial when the majority of recusal motions are filed. Movant’s motion is a collateral attack on
his underlying 2010 federal criminal trial and does not appear to be a legitimate complaint about
the alleged lack of impartiality or the appearance of partiality on the part of the undersigned.
Having considered the Motion to Recuse (#160), the Government’s Response to Joint Motions to
Recuse (“Response”) (#169), Movant’s Reply to Government’s Opposition to Motion for Recusal
(“Reply”) (#172), and all other relevant pleadings, the court is of the opinion that Movant’s
Motion to Recuse should be denied.
I.
Procedural History
On January 21, 2009, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against Movant
and Mark Isaac Snarr (“Snarr”) charging them with murdering a fellow inmate at the United States
Penitentiary in Beaumont, Texas, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111 and 2. United States of
America v. Snarr et al., Cause No. 1:09-cr-015 (“No. 1:09-cr-015”) (#7). The indictment
provided notice of special findings for both Movant and Snarr, and on February 9, 2009, the
Government filed notice of its intent to seek the death penalty against both defendants. (No.
1:09-cr-015, #19).
On April 6, 2010, jury selection began, which spanned more than two weeks2—and allowed
the parties to question the venire persons individually and raise challenges to each venire person’s
2
General voir dire took place on April 6, 2010, and April 7, 2010. (No. 1:09-cr-015, ##383-84).
Individual voir dire was conducted from April 12, 2010, through April 26, 2010. (Id., ##385-95).
2
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 3 of 29 PageID #:
165266
fitness to sit as a petit juror on Movant’s federal death penalty trial.3 (No. 1:09-cr-015, #383).
A petit jury of twelve jurors and five alternates was chosen. (Id., #396 at 19).
On May 7, 2010, the jurors deliberated and returned guilty verdicts against both Movant
and Snarr for the fellow inmate’s murder. (Id., #303). On May 12, 2010, the petit jury
unanimously concluded that Movant and Snarr were eligible for the death penalty. (Id., #317).
That same day, the court began the selection phase of Movant and Snarr’s trial. On May 24,
2010, the jury unanimously selected the death penalty as the appropriate punishment for both
Movant and Snarr. (Id., #339, 350). The court subsequently sentenced Movant and Snarr to
death in accordance with the jury’s determination. (Id., #352).
Movant and Snarr appealed their convictions and death sentences. The United States Court
of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the convictions and sentences. United States v. Snarr,
704 F.3d 368, 377 (5th Cir. 2013), cert. denied, 571 U.S. 1195 (2014).
On February 24, 2015, Movant filed his initial Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct
the Sentence Pursuant to Section 2255 (“Motion to Vacate”). (No. 1:13-cv-723, #31). Movant
filed his Amended Motion to Vacate six and a half years later, in November 2021. (No. 1:13-cv723, #136). The Government filed its Amended Response in Opposition to Motion for Collateral
Relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (“Amended 2255 Response”) (Id., #146) in February 2022.
Movant filed his Reply to Government’s Amended Answer to Motion for Collateral Relief
Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (“2255 Reply”) in June 2022. (Id., #158). Movant’s Amended
Motion to Vacate is pending before the court.
3
The court notes that no objections were raised to the selection of venire persons from the relevant
jury wheel at any time before, during, or after the jury selection process. (Id., ##385-95).
3
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 4 of 29 PageID #:
165267
II.
Background
Before the creation of the jury wheel, on October 30, 2009, in compliance with the JSSA,
a status conference hearing was held to discuss the creation of the jury wheel and the juror
questionnaire process for Movant and Snarr’s criminal jury trial that was set to begin in April
2010. Status Conference Transcript (“SC Tr.”), 10/30/2009 at 10-11. No objection was raised
at the status conference hearing regarding the creation of a new jury wheel or the method of
creating the jury wheel by any party.4 Id. Thereafter, the jury qualification questionnaires were
sent to prospective venire persons, and those who were qualified to serve5 and not exempt were
4
Beth Harper (“Harper”), the Eastern District of Texas’s jury coordinator, attended the status
conference to “discuss the progress being made on getting the jury.” SC Tr., 10/30/2009 at 10-11; (No.
1:09-cr-015, #379 at 10-11). Harper informed the parties that a “new” jury wheel was being created for
this case.
THE COURT: All right. Ms. Harper, do you want to come talk about the jury?
MS. HARPER: We are just now starting the process of building our new jury wheel for
this case. We will be sending out approximately 1500 to 1700 jury qualification questionnaires.
That is our first step in our procedure, which is outlined by our jury plan.
(Reading) Prospective jurors will be mailed a qualification questionnaire form to
complete and return to the court. After the court determines that they are qualified to serve, the
names are entered into a pool and then they will be randomly summoned for the jury selection
date . . . . The juror names are chosen at random from a master registration list that is
maintained by the Secretary of State of all persons registered to vote.
And I do have a copy of the jury plan and the juror questionnaire that we’ll be sending
out, if each side would like a copy of that.
SC Tr. at 10-11.
5
The returned juror qualification forms are used to determine whether a person qualifies to serve
as a juror. Under the JSSA, a person is qualified to serve as a grand or petit juror unless he or she: (1)
is not a citizen of the United States, is not 18 years of age or older, or has not resided for one year within
the district, (2) is unable to read, write, and understand the English language with a degree of proficiency
sufficient to fill out satisfactorily the juror qualification form, (3) is unable to speak the English language,
(4) is incapable, by reason of mental or physical infirmity, to render satisfactory jury service, or (5) has
a charge pending against him or her for the commission, or has been convicted in a state or federal court,
of a crime punishable by imprisonment for more than one year and his or her civil rights have not been
4
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 5 of 29 PageID #:
165268
summoned. Both the Movant’s trial counsel and the Government were allowed to review the juror
questionnaires of the summoned venire persons and use the questionnaires to question the
308-member venire panel. (No. 1:13-cv-723, #160 at 6). During the voir dire, the parties
questioned the venire persons generally and individually and raised challenges to each venire
person’s fitness to sit as a petit juror on Movant’s federal death penalty trial. A petit jury of
twelve jurors and five alternates was chosen. (No. 1:09-cr-015, #396 at 19).
Movant seeks now, in 2023, to recuse the undersigned from ruling upon his pending
Motion to Vacate, even though the alleged conduct which is the basis of his motion occurred prior
to Movant’s 2010 federal criminal trial. Movant further contends that all judges of the Eastern
District of Texas should be recused from reviewing his Motion to Vacate pursuant to Section
2255.
III.
Standards
Section 455, governing disqualification of federal judges, contains two parts: Section
455(a) is a general catchall provision, while Section 455(b) enumerates specific circumstances
when a judge must recuse. Movant cites both subsections in his Motion to Recuse. Under Section
455(a), “[a]ny justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in
any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” 28 U.S.C. § 455(a).
Section 455(b) contains five grounds for recusal. A judge must disqualify himself where:
(1) “he has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party, or personal knowledge of disputed
evidentiary facts concerning the proceeding”; (2) “in private practice he served as lawyer in the
matter in controversy, or a lawyer with whom he previously practiced law served during such
restored. 28 U.S.C. § 1865(b). The returned juror qualification forms are also used to review requests
for excuses and exemptions from jury service.
5
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 6 of 29 PageID #:
165269
association as a lawyer concerning the matter, or the judge or such lawyer has been a material
witness concerning it”; (3) “he has served in governmental employment and in such capacity
participated as counsel, adviser or material witness concerning the proceeding or expressed an
opinion concerning the merits of the particular case in controversy”; (4) “[h]e knows that he,
individually or as a fiduciary, or his spouse or minor child residing in his household, has a
financial interest in the subject matter in controversy or in a party to the proceeding, or any other
interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding”; or (5) “[h]e or his
spouse . . . is a party to the proceeding,” “acting as a lawyer in the proceeding,” “[i]s known by
the judge to have an interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the
proceeding,” or “[i]s to the judge’s knowledge likely to be a material witness in the proceeding.”
28 U.S.C. § 455(b).
The standard under Section 455 is objective: “whether a reasonable and objective person,
knowing all of the facts, would harbor doubts concerning the judge’s impartiality.” United States
v. Brocato, 4 F.4th 296, 301 (5th Cir. 2021) (per curiam) (quoting United States v. Jordan, 49
F.3d 152, 155 (5th Cir. 1995)). When applying this standard, it is important to keep in mind that
a “judge is as much obligated not to recuse himself when it is not called for as he is obligated to
when it is.” McClelland v. Gronwaldt, 942 F. Supp. 297, 302 (E.D. Tex. 1996). The decision
whether to recuse under Section 455 is committed to the sound discretion of the court. See Garcia
v. City of Laredo, 702 F.3d 788, 793-94 (5th Cir. 2012), cert. denied, 570 U.S. 918 (2013).
Under Section 455, Movant, as the party moving to recuse, bears “a heavy burden of
proof” in showing that the court should recuse. E.g., United States v. Reggie, No. 13-111-SDDSCR, 2014 WL 1664256, at *2 (M.D. La. Apr. 25, 2014). The recusal inquiry is “extremely fact
6
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 7 of 29 PageID #:
165270
intensive and fact bound” and requires “a close recitation of the factual basis for the . . . recusal
motion” by the movant. Jackson v. Valdez, 852 F. App’x 129, 133 (5th Cir. 2021) (quoting
Republic of Panama v. Am. Tobacco Co., Inc., 217 F.3d 343, 346 (5th Cir. 2000)), cert. denied,
142 S. Ct. 863 (2022).
The United States Supreme Court has made clear that “[t]he recusal inquiry must be made
from the perspective of a reasonable observer who is informed of all the surrounding facts and
circumstances.” Cheney v. U.S. Dist. Ct. for Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004). The
Fifth Circuit has interpreted this mandate to mean that “[courts] ask how things appear to the
well-informed, thoughtful and objective observer, rather than the hypersensitive, cynical, and
suspicious person,” while remaining “mindful that an observer of our judicial system is less likely
to credit judges’ impartiality than the judiciary” would be. Jordan, 49 F.3d at 156-57. Recusal
would be proper if a court determines that a reasonable person would perceive a significant risk
that the judge will resolve the case on a basis other than the merits. See Sao Paolo State of
Federative Republic of Braz. v. Am. Tobacco Co., 535 U.S. 229, 232-33 (2002).
IV.
Discussion and Analysis
A.
JSSA and Sixth Amendment Claims
As an initial matter, the application of 28 U.S.C. §§ 1867(a) and (e) to Movant’s
underlying claim that irregularities existed in the creation of the jury wheel for his 2010 federal
criminal trial is essential and resolves several issues raised by Movant. Movant contends that the
undersigned’s lack of impartiality or appearance of partiality arises from his JSSA6 and Sixth
6
The JSSA provides that all litigants in federal court entitled to a trial by jury “shall have the right
to grand and petit juries selected at random from a fair cross section of the community in the district or
division wherein the court convenes.” 28 U.S.C. § 1861. In addition, “all citizens shall have the
opportunity to be considered for service on grand and petit juries . . . and shall have an obligation to serve
7
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 8 of 29 PageID #:
165271
Amendment claims regarding the jury wheel utilized for his federal criminal trial.
More
specifically, the basis of Movant’s claim is that the undersigned should be recused because the
undersigned will have to consider whether to: (1) permit discovery, (2) allow an evidentiary
hearing, (3) apply a cause and prejudice test, and (4) evaluate his substantive claim regarding his
underlying JSSA and Sixth Amendment challenges in resolving this claim on habeas corpus
review. (#160 at 13). He also intends to call the undersigned as a “material” witness to testify
as to her knowledge of the creation of the jury wheel.
Movant errs in raising these claims substantively and in a Motion to Recuse because he did
not comply with the statutory mandates of 28 U.S.C. §§ 1867(a) and (e) and fails to state a prima
facie case regarding his Sixth Amendment fair cross-section of the community claim.
1.
28 U.S.C. §§ 1867(a) and (e)
Section 1867(a) provides:
In criminal cases, before the voir dire examination begins, or within seven days
after the defendant discovered or could have discovered, by the exercise of
diligence, the grounds therefor, whichever is earlier, the defendant may move to
dismiss the indictment or stay the proceedings against him on the ground of
substantial failure to comply with provisions of this title in selecting the grand or
petit jury.
28 U.S.C. § 1867(a) (emphasis added). Thus, any claim under the JSSA must be brought no later
than the beginning of voir dire. United States v. Rosbottom, 763 F.3d 408, 415 (5th Cir. 2014)
(holding that defendant’s claim under the JSSA was untimely because defendant did not file a
motion or sworn statement before the voir dire examination began), cert. denied, 574 U.S. 1078
as jurors when summoned for the purpose.” Id. A citizen cannot be excluded from jury service “on
account of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or economic status.” Id. § 1862.
8
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 9 of 29 PageID #:
165272
(2015); United States v. Smith, No. CR 19-324 (BAH), 2022 WL 425059, at *13 (D.D.C. Feb.
11, 2022) (holding that the beginning of voir dire is the latest possible time to bring a JSSA
challenge). There is no indication in the record of Cause No. 1:09-cr-015(2), United States of
America v. Edgar Baltazar Garcia, that Movant moved to dismiss the indictment or stay the
proceedings against him on the ground of substantial failure to comply with the JSSA. In fact,
Movant acknowledges that he did not bring this jury claim prior to trial. (No. 1:13-cv-723, #160
at 1). By failing to act timely as directed by § 1867(a), a defendant waives his objection under the
JSSA.
The JSSA mandates in § 1867(e):
The procedures prescribed by this section shall be the exclusive means by which
a person accused of a Federal crime, the Attorney General of the United States or
a party in a civil case may challenge any jury on the ground that such jury was not
selected in conformity with the provisions of this title. Nothing in this section shall
preclude any person or the United States from pursuing any other remedy, civil or
criminal, which may be available for the vindication or enforcement of any law
prohibiting discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, national origin
or economic status in the selection of persons for service on grand or petit juries.
28 U.S.C. § 1867(e). The Fifth Circuit has explained that the JSSA “is to be strictly construed,
and failure to comply precisely with its terms forecloses a challenge.” Rosbottom, 763 F.3d at
415 (quoting United States v. Bearden, 659 F.2d 590, 595 (5th Cir. Unit B 1981)).
The court notes that Congress used the plain language of “exclusive means” in Subsection
(e) pertaining to the ability of a criminal defendant to challenge defects asserted under the JSSA.
The language implies that Congress did not intend criminal defendants to raise any JSSA
challenges in proceedings beyond jury selection.
Because Movant failed to comply with
§ 1867(a), he is now foreclosed or barred from asserting a claim under the JSSA in this context.
9
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 10 of 29 PageID #:
165273
See United States v. Ballard, 779 F.2d 287, 295 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 475 U.S. 1109 (1986);
United States v. Green, 742 F.2d 609, 612 (11th Cir. 1984). Hence, to the extent that the Motion
to Recuse seeks recusal based on an alleged JSSA violation, his motion is also foreclosed.
2.
The Sixth Amendment
Movant also raises a challenge under the Sixth Amendment’s right to a venire pool selected
from a jury wheel that represents a fair cross-section of the community. See Taylor v. Louisiana,
419 U.S. 522, 528 (1976). The Sixth Amendment guarantees a criminal defendant the right to a
trial by a jury selected at random from a fair cross-section of the community. Berghuis v. Smith,
559 U.S. 314, 319 (2010) (citing Taylor, 419 U.S. at 537); see United States v. Simpson, 645
F.3d 300, 312 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 565 U.S. 994 (2011); United States v. Alix, 86 F.3d 429,
434 (5th Cir. 1996). The fair-cross-section guarantee applies to both grand and petit juries.
Peters v. Kiff, 407 U.S. 493, 504 (1972); Murphy v. Johnson, 205 F.3d 809, 817-18 (5th Cir.),
cert. denied, 531 U.S. 957 (2000). A defendant is not entitled to a grand or petit jury that consists
of a particular racial composition because there is no requirement that the “juries actually chosen
must mirror the community and reflect the various distinctive groups in the population.” Taylor,
419 U.S. at 538. “[B]ut the jury wheels, pools of names, panels, or venires from which juries are
drawn must not systematically exclude distinctive groups in the community and thereby fail to be
reasonably representative thereof.” Id.
Nevertheless, as the Fifth Circuit has recognized, “a jury list drawn objectively,
mechanically, and at random from the entire voting list of a [district] is entitled to the presumption
that it is drawn from a source which is a fairly representative cross-section of the inhabitants of
that jurisdiction. The presumption, of course, is rebuttable but the challenger must carry the
10
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 11 of 29 PageID #:
165274
burden of showing that the product of such a procedure is, in fact, constitutionally defective.”
Thompson v. Sheppard, 490 F.2d 830, 833 (5th Cir. 1974), cert. denied, 420 U.S. 984 (1975);
see United States v. Quiroz, 137 F. App’x 667, 670 (5th Cir. 2005), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 1139
(2006).
To establish a constitutional defect, namely, a prima facie violation of the Sixth
Amendment’s fair-cross-section requirement, a defendant must demonstrate:
(1) that the group alleged to be excluded is a “distinctive” group in the community;
(2) that the representation of this group in venires from which juries are selected is not
fair and reasonable in relation to the number of such persons in the community; and
(3) that this underrepresentation is due to systematic exclusion of the group in the
jury-selection process.
Duren v. Missouri, 439 U.S. 357, 364 (1979). The intent to discriminate forms no part of the
fair-cross-section analysis. Id. at 368 n.26.7 If the defendant establishes a prima facie case, the
burden shifts to the government to prove “that a significant state interest [is] manifestly and
primarily advanced by those aspects of the jury-selection process . . . that result in the
disproportionate exclusion of a distinctive group.” Id. at 367-68.
In order to state a claim under the fair cross-section requirement, Movant must show that
a distinctive group is generally and systematically excluded from jury venires. Timmel v. Phillips,
799 F.2d 1083, 1086 (5th Cir. 1986); see United States v. DeFries, 129 F.3d 1293, 1301 (D.C.
Cir. 1997) (“Underrepresentation of a cognizable group in a single venire, without evidence of
a greater pattern, is insufficient to establish the ‘systematic exclusion of the group’ required
7
In contrast, an equal protection claim for discrimination in the selection of grand or petit juries
requires the defendant to show purposeful or intentional discrimination. Castaneda v. Partida, 430 U.S.
482, 493 (1977).
11
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 12 of 29 PageID #:
165275
by Duren8 . . . . From a small sample size based on one venire it is difficult to determine whether
the disparity is random or systemic.” (citations omitted)); Singleton v. Lockhart, 871 F.2d 1395,
1399 (8th Cir.) (“Evidence of a discrepancy on a single venire panel cannot demonstrate
systematic exclusion.”), cert. denied, 493 U.S. 874 (1989); United States v. Miller, 771 F.2d
1219, 1228 (9th Cir. 1985) (holding that the Duren Court’s use of the plural when describing
“venires” from which “juries” are selected indicated that a violation of the underrepresentation
element cannot be premised on underrepresentation on a single jury venire). Movant has not
alleged, much less demonstrated, general and systematic exclusion of a distinctive group from jury
venires in the Eastern District of Texas. Accordingly, Movant has failed to meet the standard
required to establish a Sixth Amendment violation regarding the venire pool.
Given that Movant’s underlying JSSA challenge is foreclosed by his failure to comply with
§§ 1867(a) and (e) and his Sixth Amendment challenge to the jury wheel and/or venire fails to
state a claim, Movant’s Motion to Recuse is without basis. Movant’s attempt to bolster his
challenges to the 2010 jury wheel alleged in his Motions to Vacate through a Motion to Recuse
is unavailing and untimely. Moreover, the need of the court to rule upon whether to: (1) permit
discovery, (2) allow an evidentiary hearing, (3) apply a cause and prejudice test, or (4) evaluate
his substantive claim regarding Movant’s underlying JSSA and Sixth Amendment challenges (No.
1:13-cv-723, #160 at 13) is foreclosed by Movant’s failure to comply with Section 1867(a) and
(e) as well as his failure to demonstrate that a distinctive group is generally and systematically
excluded from jury venires. On this basis, Movant’s Motion to Recuse is denied as unfounded.
8
Duren, 439 U.S. at 364.
12
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 13 of 29 PageID #:
165276
B.
Timeliness of the Motion to Recuse
In the alternative, the Government urges that Movant’s Motion to Recuse should be denied
as untimely. (Id., #169 at 6-7). The jury wheel utilized in Movant’s case was created in late 2009
for his April 2010 federal criminal trial. (No. 1:09-cr-015, #379 at 10-11). As noted above, no
party objected to the creation of the jury wheel or the resulting venire panel from which the petit
jury was chosen. Thirteen years have passed since the selection of Movant’s petit jury. In his
direct appeal to the Fifth Circuit, Movant did not raise either an issue or an objection regarding
the creation of the jury wheel or the resulting venire panel from which the petit jury was
chosen.9, 10 Snarr, 704 F.3d at 368.
9
THE COURT: All right. Now we’ll have the jury sworn in.
(Oath administered to jury)
THE COURT: Is there any objection to the jury as impaneled?
MR. BATTE: No, your Honor.
Mr. MORROW: Your Honor, just subject to our earlier motions.
Mr. BARLOW: That’s correct, your Honor, just subject to the previous rulings of the court
and the positions that were taken.
THE COURT: Okay. All right. Have a seat.
Guilt/Innocence Phase Transcript, Vol. 1, at 19; (No. 1:09-cr-015, #396 at 19).
10
At trial and on appeal to the Fifth Circuit, Movant contended: (1) that the court improperly
excluded for cause five prospective jurors who expressed reservations about imposing the death penalty,
(2) that the court erred in dismissing a venire person who indicated that he had a physical infirmity that
would impair his ability to render effective jury service, and (3) that the court improperly denied Movant’s
for cause challenges to three prospective jurors; all of these challenges were rejected by the appellate court.
Snarr, 704 F.3d at 379.
13
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 14 of 29 PageID #:
165277
The first time Movant raised a concern regarding the creation of the jury wheel for the jury
selection process was in 2015, when Movant filed his initial Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, or
Correct the Sentence pursuant to Section 2255 (“Motion to Vacate”) asserting that his counsel
provided ineffective assistance of counsel because they failed to investigate and object to the
creation and composition of the jury wheel. (No. 1:13-cv-723, #31 at 383-93). Movant did not
assert his contention then that the court was biased or prejudiced against him in the creation or use
of the jury wheel. (Id.). He did not file a recusal motion at that time, follow the mandates of 28
U.S.C. § 1867(a), or allege facts asserting a prima facie violation of the Sixth Amendment’s fair
cross-section of the community requirement.
Given that Movant contended his trial counsel should have investigated and objected to the
creation and composition of the jury wheel in his initial Motion to Vacate (No. 1:13-cv-723, #31
at 383-93), he was arguably on notice in 2015 of a potential issue regarding the jury wheel when
he filed his initial Motion to Vacate. Movant, however, waited until 2023 to file the Motion to
Recuse—eight years after Movant filed his initial Motion to Vacate. Movant does not explain why
he waited eight years to raise the issues asserted in his Motion to Recuse—other than to state that
writing and researching his Amended Motion to Vacate took significant time and energy. (Id.,
#172 at 2). Such explanation is insufficient.
Movant filed his Amended Motion to Vacate in November 2021. (Id., #136). He filed his
Reply to the Government’s Response in June 2022. (Id., #172). Six months after he filed his
Reply to the Government’s Response to the Motion to Vacate, Movant filed his Motion to Recuse.
In response to the Government’s arguments regarding timeliness, Movant quips in his Reply that
the Government has accused him of not typing fast enough. (Id., #172 at 2). The Government’s
14
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 15 of 29 PageID #:
165278
timeliness argument is significant and should not be taken lightly. The Government maintains
that: (1) the underlying creation of a jury wheel claim should have been raised in 2009 or 2010
when it was pertinent to the trial and not thirteen years later; (2) the Motion to Recuse was filed
eight years after Movant’s initial Motion to Vacate was filed and six months after Movant’s Reply
was filed; (3) the underlying claim was not raised in Movant’s initial Motion to Vacate, except as
an ineffective assistance of counsel claim;11 and (4) Movant’s claims under the JSSA and the Sixth
Amendment fair-cross-section guarantee are both legally and procedurally barred. (Id., #169 at
2-7). The timing of Movant’s Motion to Recuse begs the question of whether the Motion to
Recuse “may have been designed primarily to force the judge to recuse himself,” United States
v. Pollard, 959 F.2d 1011, 1031 n.13 (D.C. Cir.), cert. denied, 506 U.S. 915 (1992), especially
in light of Movant’s request to recuse the entirety of the Eastern District of Texas judiciary.
The Fifth Circuit infers a “timeliness requirement from § 455,” but has “declined to adopt
a per se rule on untimeliness.” United States v. Sanford, 157 F.3d 987, 988 (5th Cir. 1998)
(citing Hollywood Fantasy Corp. v. Gabor, 151 F.3d 203, 216 (5th Cir. 1998)), cert. denied, 526
U.S. 1089 (1999); see Andrade v. Chojnacki, 338 F.3d 448, 459 n.5 (5th Cir. 2003), cert. denied
sub nom. Thompson v. Chojnacki, 541 U.S. 935 (2004). “The general rule on timeliness requires
that ‘one seeking disqualification must do so at the earliest moment after knowledge of the facts
demonstrating the basis for such disqualification.’” Sanford, 157 F.3d at 988 (quoting Travelers
11
Although Movant sought and obtained leave of court to amend his initial § 2255 motion to clarify
his existing claims, he did not seek leave to raise new claims asserted in his amended § 2255 motion.
Amendments do not relate back if they assert “a new ground for relief supported by facts that differ in both
time and type from those the original pleading set forth.” Mayle v. Felix, 545 U.S. 644, 650 (2005). If
a proposed amendment does not relate back to the original motion to vacate, the amendment is time-barred
under the one-year limitations period of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996
(“AEDPA”). 28 U.S.C. § 2255(f)(1).
15
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 16 of 29 PageID #:
165279
Ins. Co. v. Lijeberg Enters., Inc., 38 F.3d 1404, 1410 (5th Cir. 1994)); see In re Pendergraft, 745
F. App’x 517, 520 (5th Cir. 2018), cert. denied, 139 S. Ct. 1240 (2019).
As far as the creation of the jury wheel is concerned, Movant was aware in 2009 that a
“new” jury wheel was being created for his capital murder trial. SC Tr. 10/30/2009, at 10-11.
As to the manner in which the jury wheel was populated, Movant was offered a copy of the
existing jury plan at the Status Conference hearing held on October 30, 2009. (SC Tr. at 11).
Even if an error occurred with respect to the manner in which the wheel was created, Movant’s
counsel were able to observe personally and evaluate the resultant 308 venire members during the
two days of general voir dire (No. 1:09-cr-723, ##383-84) and the two weeks of individual voir
dire (Id., ##385-95).
In addition to the identifying information contained in the jury questionnaires, Movant’s
counsel were able to inspect visually and review the gender, race, and ethnicity of each of the 308
venire members during this time for purposes of the Sixth Amendment’s fair cross-section
requirement. Even the circumstance of eight married couples appearing in the 308-member venire
panel was apparent during jury selection.12 (Id., #393 at 2298, 2332-34, 2351). No objection,
however, was raised to the venire panel as a whole. (Id., ##383-84, ##385-95). Movant’s expert
declaration (1:13-cv-723, #160-3), attached to his Motion to Recuse, is dated November 18, 2021
(Id., #160-3 at 18), and is the same declaration that is attached to his Amended Motion to Vacate
(Id., #136-3 at 1-18), filed on November 19, 2021. Without regard to the veracity or correctness
12
Despite Movant’s skepticism, the presence of married couples, neighbors, co-workers, and other
relatives on the same venire panel is not impossible nor improbable—especially as large as this panel was.
The Beaumont Division consists of a number of small rural counties wherein families and neighbors have
lived and worked side-by-side for generations. No married couples, however, served on the jury in the
case at bar.
16
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 17 of 29 PageID #:
165280
of the declaration, Movant has had the declaration in his possession since November 2021, but he
did not file the Motion to Recuse until January 25, 2023. (Id., #160). Movant does not
adequately explain the reason for the delay in filing his Motion to Recuse. (#172 at 2).
The timeliness requirement of Section 455 obligates a party to raise the disqualification
issue “at a reasonable time in the litigation.” Hollywood Fantasy Corp., 151 F.3d at 216 (quoting
United States v. York, 888 F.2d 1050, 1055 (5th Cir. 1989)). “[Our] general rule on timeliness
requires that ‘one seeking disqualification must do so at the earliest moment after knowledge of
the facts demonstrating the basis for such disqualification.’” Sanford, 157 F.3d at 988 (quoting
Travelers Ins. Co., 38 F.3d at 1410); see In re Pendergraft, 745 F. App’x at 520. The Fifth
Circuit has rejected recusal challenges on appeal as untimely when the challenger waited to see
if he liked an outcome before asserting the recusal issue. See Sanford, 157 F.3d at 988-89 (“The
most egregious delay—the closest thing to per se untimeliness—occurs when a party already knows
the facts purportedly showing an appearance of impropriety but waits until after an adverse
decision has been made by the judge before raising the issue of recusal.”).
The assertions included in the declaration (1:13-cv-723, #160-3) that Movant submitted in
support of his Amended Motion to Vacate are the same factual allegations on which Movant bases
his Motion to Recuse under §§ 455(a) and (b)(1). The factual allegations all stem from sources
of public information that were available well before Movant filed his Motion to Vacate on
February 24, 2015. Movant fails to provide a sufficient explanation for his delay. Movant’s
Motion to Recuse is, therefore, denied as untimely.
17
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 18 of 29 PageID #:
165281
C.
Recusal under 28 U.S.C. § 455(a)
Section 455(a) pertains to the appearance of partiality in general. Andrade, 338 F.3d at
454. “[Section] 455(a) is triggered by an attitude or state of mind so resistant to fair and
dispassionate inquiry as to cause a party, the public, or a reviewing court to have reasonable
grounds to question the neutral and objective character of a judge’s rulings or findings,” such that
recusal is required “if it appears that [the judge] harbors an aversion, hostility or disposition of
a kind that a fair-minded person could not set aside when judging the dispute.” Liteky v. United
States, 510 U.S. 540, 557-58 (1994) (Kennedy, J., concurring); accord Brocato, 4 F.4th at 302.
Movant’s success depends upon his ability to clear the foregoing hurdles; he must:
(1)
demonstrate that the alleged comment, action, or circumstance was of “extrajudicial” origin, (2)
place the offending event into the context of the entire trial, and (3) do so by an “objective”
observer’s standard. See Andrade, 338 F.3d at 455. Movant fails to meet the test set out in
Andrade.
In support of his claim pursuant to § 455(a), Movant argues that the undersigned should
be recused because:
In the present case, the personal bias or personal knowledge of Judge Crone derives
from: Judge Crone’s role and responsibility as supervisor of the jury selection
process; Judge Crone’s off the record and ex parte communications with jury
coordinator, Beth Harper, regarding the process of jury selection in this and other
cases involving similar problems with the assembly of the venire; Judge Crone’s
off the record communications with trial counsel about the selection of the venire
in this case; Judge Crone’s long-time working relationship with relevant court
staff—[Beth Harper, David Maland, and Terry Splawn]—and, Judge Crone’s
opinion, based on many years of working together, of the credibility of court staff.
18
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 19 of 29 PageID #:
165282
(Id., #160 at 17). Movant does not address the underlying problems of his failure to comply with
28 U.S.C. §§ 1867(a) and (e) and his failure to set out a prima facie violation of the Sixth
Amendment fair-cross-section requirement, which foreclose his Motion to Recuse.
Movant’s litany of purported examples of the undersigned’s appearance of the lack of
impartiality, without more, fails to meet the Andrade test. He fails to identify a comment by the
undersigned in any of the alleged off-the-record communications with trial counsel or anyone else
about the venire in this case that was of extrajudicial origin, that places the offending comment
into the context of the entire trial, and would give the appearance of partiality to a reasonable and
objective person, who knows all the facts. See Andrade, 338 F.3d at 455. The court notes that
Movant did not attach any affidavits or declarations, made under penalty of perjury, from his trial
counsel in No. 1:09-cr-015 pointing to a specific comment or comments by the undersigned which
give rise to a concern regarding the appearance of partiality.
Moreover, the record offers no support of any off-the-record communications between the
undersigned and anyone regarding Movant’s actual complaint—how the wheel was populated—and
Movant points to no specific instances of ex parte communications. Even specific in camera
statements by a judge are not sufficient to create an appearance of partiality. Id. at 456-57.
Likewise, Movant’s arguments regarding the court and its staff are lacking.13 Movant
implies that the undersigned’s professional relationship and dealings with court staff are improper
13
Movant identifies former Clerk of Court David Maland (“Maland”), former Operations Manager
Terri Splawn (“Splawn”), and current Jury Coordinator Harper as the three court employees in question.
Maland and Splawn both worked in Tyler, Texas, while employed by the court, while Harper was assigned
to Beaumont. The undersigned is not related to Maland or Splawn and has no personal relationship with
them. Harper works in her separate office within the courthouse and has never worked in or near the
undersigned’s chambers. The undersigned and Harper are not related, are not neighbors, did not go to
school together, have no personal relationship, and do not socialize.
19
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 20 of 29 PageID #:
165283
and constitute engaging in “ex parte” communications with court employees.14 He does not
present any legal support for his assertion that the court and its employees are engaging in “ex
parte” communications when they discuss court business. The court is not a party to the
litigation, nor are the court employees. Importantly, Movant fails to identify a comment by the
undersigned in any off-the-record communication with the court’s staff about the venire in this
case that was of extrajudicial origin, that places the offending comment into the context of the
entire trial, and would give the appearance of partiality to a reasonable and objective person, who
knows all the facts. See id. at 455.
Furthermore, Movant infers that the court and the three court employees are such close
personal friends that the court harbors a personal bias against Movant in favor of upholding his
conviction and sentence because of alleged irregularities in the assembly of the jury venire in
which they may have been involved. Movant’s inference fails the reasonable person test. The
facts as alleged by Movant do not describe or even suggest any extrajudicial or judicial
relationships that would convince a reasonable person that the undersigned and the three court
employees shared a close personal relationship, or that based on that relationship, the undersigned
harbors a personal bias against Movant in favor of upholding his conviction and sentence. Recusal
is required only when the stated facts establish a personal relationship of such magnitude that the
judge cannot be impartial. See Recusal: Analysis of Case Law Under 28 U.S.C. §§ 455 & 144,
29 (Fed. Jud. Ctr. 2002) (“A judge’s friendship with one of the attorneys, or acquaintance with
14
Black’s Law Dictionary defines “ex parte” as “Done or made at the instance and for the benefit
of one party only, and without notice to, or argument by, any person adversely interested; of or relating
to court action taken by one party without notice to the other . . . .” Ex Parte, BLACK’S LAW DICTIONARY
517 (8th ed. 1999). The undersigned notes that the court is not a party to Movant’s litigation and the term
“ex parte” is not appropriately used by Movant.
20
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 21 of 29 PageID #:
165284
witnesses or even parties, does not ordinarily require recusal. However, there are cases where
the extent of the intimacy, or other circumstance, renders recusal necessary.”).
Here, Movant’s subjective belief that the court and the three court employees share a close
personal relationship of the magnitude that would convince a reasonable person that the court is
biased against Movant in favor of upholding a conviction is pure speculation. See Chitimacha
Tribe of La. v. Harry L. Laws Co., Inc., 690 F.2d 1157, 1167 (5th Cir. 1982) (holding that a
reasonable person would not be convinced that bias exists based upon pure speculation), cert.
denied, 464 U.S. 814 (1983); Parrish v. Bd. of Comm’rs of Ala. State Bar, 524 F.2d 98, 102 (5th
Cir. 1975) (en banc) (“[F]riendship between the judge and counsel for appellees, without more,
is so lacking in merit as to warrant no discussion.”), cert. denied, 425 U.S. 944 (1976); United
States v. Olis, 571 F. Supp. 2d 777, 787 (S.D. Tex. 2008) (“[A judge] must have neighbors,
friends and acquaintances, business and social relations, and be a part of his day and
generation . . . the ordinary results of such associations and the impressions they create in the
mind of the judge are not the ‘personal bias or prejudice’ to which the statute refers.” (quoting
United States v. Gilboy, 162 F. Supp. 384, 400 (M.D. Pa. 1958))).
Moreover, the Fifth Circuit in Andrade found that the trial judge was not required to recuse
himself based on his long-standing relationships with two of the dismissed defendants. 338 F.3d
at 456. The court held that the issues were moot as the two defendants were dismissed early in
the case. Likewise, any concern that Movant harbors regarding the relationship between the
undersigned and Maland and Splawn is also moot, as both retired from federal service some time
ago.
21
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 22 of 29 PageID #:
165285
With regard to 28 U.S.C. § 455(a), Movant has failed to demonstrate that, under a
reasonable person standard with knowledge of all the facts, the undersigned should recuse herself
from this case. Recusal is not justified under § 455(a) because a reasonable person, had he known
of all the circumstances asserted would not harbor doubts about the undersigned’s impartiality.
Movant’s Motion to Recuse pursuant to § 455(a) is denied.
D.
Recusal under 28 U.S.C. §§ 455(b)(1) and (b)(5)(iv)
Movant moves for recusal of the undersigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 455(b)(1) and
(b)(5)(iv). None of Movant’s arguments here explain his failure to comply with the statutory
mandates of 28 U.S.C. §§ 1867(a) and (e) or his failure to set forth a prima facie violation of the
Sixth Amendment fair cross-section requirement. Movant’s failure to comply with the exclusive
means to challenge an alleged JSSA violation precludes his arguments here. His failure to state
a claim under the Sixth Amendment is further fatal. His Motion to Recuse should be denied, as
his arguments are waived.
Without regard to the fact that Movant’s underlying issues are foreclosed by §§ 1867(a)
and (e)—coupled with his failure to meet the prima facie requirements of a Sixth Amendment
challenge—he raises the same contentions regarding the undersigned’s alleged lack of impartiality
in § 455(b)(1) as he did in § 455(a). (See 1:13-cv-723, #160 at 17). The court discussed above
Movant’s claims regarding the nature of the relationships between the undersigned and the court’s
staff and found his arguments to be speculative, conclusory, and lacking in factual and legal
support. See McClelland, 942 F. Supp. at 302 (“A judge should not recuse himself based upon
unsupported, irrational, or highly tenuous speculation.” (quoting In re Am. Ready Mix, Inc., 14
F.3d 1497, 1501 (10th Cir.), cert. denied sub nom. Lopez v. Behles, 513 U.S. 818 (1994))). Even
22
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 23 of 29 PageID #:
165286
within the context of § 455(b)(1), recusal is not justified because a reasonable person, had he
known of all the circumstances asserted, would not harbor doubts about the undersigned’s
impartiality.
Movant further contends pursuant to § 455(b)(1) that the undersigned has personal bias or
personal knowledge because of the undersigned’s “role and responsibility as supervisor of the jury
selection process.” (Id., #160 at 17). While the Eastern District’s jury plan indicates that the
court has oversight of the court staff and process, the Clerk of Court is the one tasked with
managing the process of populating the wheel, selecting and retaining a contractor, and
supervising those involved. (Id., #160-2 at 3).
The Eastern District Jury Plan explains the process as follows:
Section 3. Management and Supervision of Jury Selection Process
The clerk of the court shall manage the jury selection process. The clerk shall act
under the supervision and control of the judges of this district.
This district, by adoption of this plan, has elected to operate the jury selection
process under a fully automated, electronic data processing system.
(Id., #160-2 at 3). The Jury Plan further provides that the source list for populating the jury wheel
is the random selection from the Master Registration Lists maintained by the Secretary of the State
of Texas of all persons registered to vote in the most recent federal general election held every two
years. Eastern District of Texas General Order 09-7. The undersigned is not personally involved
in this fully automated process of creating a jury wheel, has no role in selecting a contractor to
perform this task, and had no knowledge of the identity of the contractor retained or the
methodology utilized prior to the current filings. The undersigned does not supervise the process
23
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 24 of 29 PageID #:
165287
and does not provide any instruction as to how the jury wheel will be created. The Jury Plan is
self-explanatory as to how the process is accomplished. (Id.)
The Government is correct that the undersigned was not the Chief Judge of the Eastern
District of Texas at the time of trial, and has never been the Chief Judge of the District, so the
undersigned would not have received copies of the certificates prepared by Sutera Data
Systems—the contractor actually responsible for creating and selecting names for the jury wheel
at issue. (Id., #169 at 11). Given the structure of the district’s jury plan, the undersigned’s role
in jury selection does not raise an appearance of partiality.
Even if there were a flaw in the data received to populate the jury wheel from which the
venire panel was drawn, Movant has failed to demonstrate that, under a reasonable person
standard with knowledge of all the facts, the undersigned should recuse herself from this case,
particularly in view of the untimeliness of the motion and the lack of any supporting evidence.
Recusal is not justified under § 455(b) because a reasonable person, had he known of all the
circumstances asserted, would not harbor doubts about the undersigned’s impartiality.
Additionally, Movant fails to make a showing that the other judges in the Eastern District
of Texas should be recused from this case, if the undersigned were unable to serve. He asserts,
without facts or case law, that the entire judiciary of the Eastern District of Texas should be
recused because of the judges’ relationship with Maland, Splawn, and Harper. Movant presents
no facts that reflect that any judge in the Eastern District of Texas has more than a professional
relationship with these three court employees. His arguments are conclusory and speculative at
best. He has failed to show that a reasonable person, with knowledge of all the facts, would find
24
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 25 of 29 PageID #:
165288
that all of the judges of the Eastern District of Texas are biased in upholding Movant’s conviction
and sentence. Movant’s Motion to Recuse pursuant to § 455(b)(1) is denied.
E.
Recusal under § 455(b)(5)(iv)
Movant further contends that recusal is warranted under § 455(b)(5)(iv) because the
undersigned is likely to be called as a material witness in this habeas proceeding. (Id., #160 at
2). Movant again fails to explain how the underlying claims are not barred or foreclosed by
§§ 1867(a) and (e) and his failure to meet the prima facie requirements of a Sixth Amendment
challenge. Unless Movant can overcome the effect of his waiver of these claims, discovery is not
at issue. Moreover, as the Fifth Circuit has pointed out, fishing expeditions are not permitted
under the guise of discovery in habeas corpus proceedings.15 See United States v. Fields, 761 F.3d
443, 478 (5th Cir. 2014), cert. denied, 576 U.S. 1004 (2015). In any event, the underlying claims
are procedurally and legally barred. (No. 1:13-cv-723, #146 at 274-87).
Under these
circumstances, recusal is not justified under § 455(b)(5)(iv) because a reasonable person, had he
known of all the circumstances asserted, would not harbor doubts about the undersigned’s
impartiality.
Furthermore, Movant has not established any viable grounds to compel such testimony
based on this record.
See Reagan v. United States, No. 3:14-CV-3420-M-BF, 2015 WL
13855221, at *1 (N.D. Tex. July 14, 2015) (“A judge may not be asked to testify about [her]
mental processes in reaching a judicial opinion.” (quoting Robinson v. Comm’r of Internal
15
Rule 6 of the Rules Governing 28 U.S.C. § 2255 Proceedings does not “sanction fishing
expeditions” based on a petitioner’s conclusory allegations. Rector v. Johnson, 120 F.3d 551, 562 (5th
Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 1120 (1998); accord In re Robinson, 917 F.3d 856, 865 n.14 (5th Cir.
2019), cert. denied, 140 S. Ct. 1128 (2020); Perillo v. Johnson, 79 F.3d 441, 444 (5th Cir. 1996) (“[W]e
have made clear that Rule 6 does not authorize fishing expeditions.” (internal citation and quotation marks
omitted)).
25
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 26 of 29 PageID #:
165289
Revenue, 70 F.3d 34, 38 (5th Cir. 1995), cert. denied, 519 U.S. 824 (1996))); see also United
States v. Edwards, 39 F. Supp. 2d 692, 705 (M.D. La. 1999) (“Neither counsel nor a party may
seek recusal of a judge by announcing that they intend to call the judge as a witness.” (citing
United States v. Diana, 605 F.2d 1307 (4th Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 1102 (1980);
United States v. Cross, 516 F. Supp. 700 (M.D. Ga. 1981))).
In Conkling v. Turner, the Fifth Circuit affirmed a judge’s denial of a motion to recuse
where the plaintiff sought to call the judge as a witness. 138 F.3d 577, 592-93 (5th Cir. 1998).
Conkling alleged that the judge was relying on his own recollection of events which occurred
during the trial. Id. at 592. He also requested that the Fifth Circuit order that the case be
assigned to another district judge. Id. When rejecting Conkling’s contentions, the Fifth Circuit
held:
However, Conkling also requests that we direct that on remand the case be assigned
to another district judge. We decline to do so. To begin with, we do not conclude
that the district court erred in denying the motion to recuse. As a general rule, for
purposes of recusal, a judge’s “‘[p]ersonal’ knowledge of evidentiary facts means
‘extrajudicial,’” so “[f]acts learned by a judge in his or her judicial capacity
regarding the parties before the court, whether learned in the same or a related
proceeding, cannot be the basis for disqualification.” Lac Du Flambeau Indians
v. Stop Treaty Abuse–Wis., 991 F.2d 1249, 1255-56 (7th Cir. 1993).
“Opinions formed by the judge that are based on . . . events occurring during the
proceedings do not constitute a basis for recusal ‘unless they display a deep-seated
favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible. Thus, judicial
remarks during the course of a trial that are critical or disapproving of, or even
hostile to, counsel, the parties, or their cases, ordinarily do not support a bias or
partiality challenge.’” United States v. Landerman, 109 F.3d 1053, 1066 (5th
Cir.) (quoting Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555), cert. denied, 522 U.S. 1033 (1997).
Id. at 592-93. Here, there is no indication of any such “deep-seated favoritism or antagonism”
as would “make fair judgment impossible.” See id. at 593.
26
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 27 of 29 PageID #:
165290
Attempts to disqualify judges by indicating that the judge will be called as a witness are
not favored and are rarely granted. Such a simple method of disqualifying a judge should not be
encouraged or allowed. “Should a judge be vulnerable to subpoena as to the basis of every action
taken by him, the judiciary would be open to frivolous attacks upon its dignity and integrity,
and . . . interruption of its ordinary and proper functioning.” United States v. Anderson, 560 F.3d
275, 282 (5th Cir. 2009) (quoting Gary W. v. La. Dep’t of Health & Hum. Res., 861 F.2d 1366,
1369 (5th Cir. 1988)); United States v. Edwards, 39 F. Supp. 2d 692, 705 (M.D. La. 1999)
(citing United States v. Dowdy, 440 F. Supp. 894, 896 (W.D. Va. 1977)).
In Cross, the defendant moved to dismiss the indictment on the ground that black citizens
had been discriminated against in the selection of the grand jury foreman in violation of the Sixth
Amendment. 516 F. Supp at 706-07. Defendant also sought recusal of the district judges on the
ground that the judges were necessary witnesses. Id. The court held: “Even assuming judges
are not immune from service of process, the cases seem to be in agreement that judges are under
no obligation to divulge the reasons that motivated them in their official acts; the mental processes
employed in formulating the decision may not be probed.” Id. at 707. Similarly, in United States
v. Morgan, the Supreme Court compared a proceeding before the Secretary of Agriculture to one
before a judge and stated that an examination of the mental processes of a judge would be
“destructive of judicial responsibility” and, thus, should not be permitted. 313 U.S. 409, 422
(1941).
A “reasonable observer who is informed of all the surrounding facts and circumstances”
would not find that the undersigned is biased or partial against Movant, given that: (1) the case
law strongly disfavors calling a sitting judge as a witness; (2) Movant has failed to show that the
27
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 28 of 29 PageID #:
165291
undersigned has any personal knowledge of how the jury wheel was populated by the fully
automated, electronic data processing system; (3) Movant’s JSSA claim is foreclosed and he has
failed to state a prima facie violation of a Sixth Amendment fair cross-section of the community
requirement—which are both legally and procedurally barred as discussed above. See Cheney, 541
U.S. at 924. Movant’s “layering [of] several speculative premises on top of one another to reach
a speculative conclusion” is not sufficient to warrant recusal. Sensley v. Albritton, 385 F.3d 591,
600 (5th Cir. 2004). Other than Movant’s expressed desire to conduct discovery of the court and
its employees, which appears questionable, Movant provides no basis for his assertion that the
undersigned would be called as a material witness in this case. No reasonable person would
question the partiality of the undersigned based on Movant’s claims in his recusal motion and the
record before the court. See Taylor v. United States, No. 4:21-CV-103, 2022 WL 269108, at *2
(E.D. Tex. Jan. 27, 2022). Movant’s Motion to Recuse pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 455(b)(5)(iv) is
denied.
F.
Recusal under the Due Process Clause
Movant contends that “[r]ecusal is required under the Due Process Clause given the
unacceptable risk of bias and the intractable appearance of bias in Judge Crone presiding over the
present cause.” (Id., #160 at 21). Movant’s argument is woefully short on facts and legal
support. Movant does not reply (Id., #172) to the Government’s response (Id., #169 at 19-20) that
the federal statutes, e.g., § 455, best protect a movant’s interests regarding any due process
concerns pertaining to the partiality of a judge. Movant fails again to set forth any facts
demonstrating that the undersigned lacks impartiality or presents an appearance of partiality
regarding the Movant’s challenge to his conviction and sentence. Movant’s conclusory allegations
28
Case 1:13-cv-00723-MAC-CLS Document 174 Filed 06/28/23 Page 29 of 29 PageID #:
165292
are not sufficient to provide a basis for recusal of the undersigned in this case under the Due
Process Clause. Thus, Movant’s arguments under the Due Process Clause are rejected.
V.
Conclusion
Having fully considered both parties’ arguments and the applicable law, the court finds that
a reasonable person, being fully advised of the facts, would not harbor doubts regarding the
undersigned’s impartiality pertaining to the challenge of Movant’s conviction and sentence.
Accordingly, it is
ORDERED that Movant Edgar Baltazar Garcia’s Joint Motion and Memorandum in
Support of Motion of Recusal (#160) is DENIED.
SIGNED at Beaumont, Texas, this 28th day of June, 2023.
________________________________________
MARCIA A. CRONE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
29
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?