1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 8 TATYANA EVGENIEVNA Case No. 18-cv-03748-JCS DREVALEVA, 9 ORDER DENYING MOTION TO Plaintiff, DISQUALIFY 10 v. 11 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS Re: Dkt. No. 369 12 AFFAIRS, et al., Defendants. 13
15 I. INTRODUCTION 16 Plaintiff Tatyana Drevaleva, pro se, moves to disqualify the undersigned magistrate judge 17 from this case. She states no reason for disqualification except that she is “disappointed” with the 18 Court’s rulings on her motions and in setting a schedule for the case, as well as speculation that 19 the Court “wants to intentionally and maliciously prolong [her] case.” See Drevaleva Decl. (dkt. 20 369-1) ¶ 14. For the reasons discussed below, the motion to disqualify is DENIED.1 21 II. LEGAL STANDARD 22 Drevaleva has not provided the Court with any legal basis for her motion. The Court 23 assumes that Drevaleva’s motion is made pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 144 and 455. Section 144 24 provides:
25 Whenever a party to any proceeding in a district court makes and files a timely and sufficient affidavit that the judge before whom the matter 26 is pending has a personal bias or prejudice either against him or in 27 favor of any adverse party, such judge shall proceed no further 1 therein, but another judge shall be assigned to hear such proceeding.
2 The affidavit shall state the facts and the reasons for the belief that bias or prejudice exists, and shall be filed not less than ten days before 3 the beginning of the term at which the proceeding is to be heard, or good cause shall be shown for failure to file it within such time. A 4 party may file only one such affidavit in any case. It shall be accompanied by a certificate of counsel of record stating that it is 5 made in good faith. 6 28 U.S.C. § 144. 7 Section 455 provides in relevant part:
8 (a) Any . . . magistrate judge . . . shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned. 9 (b) He shall also disqualify himself in the following circumstances: 10 (1) Where he has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party 11 . . . . 12 28 U.S.C. § 455(a)–(b). 13 “The test for personal bias or prejudice in section 144 is identical to that in section 14 455(b)(1), and the decisions interpreting this language in section 144 are controlling in the 15 interpretation of section 455(b)(1).” United States v. Sibla, 624 F.2d 864, 867 (citations omitted). 16 A motion properly brought under § 144 will therefore also raise a question concerning recusal 17 under section 455(b)(1). Id. “The substantive standard for recusal under 28 U.S.C. § 144 and 28 18 U.S.C. § 455 is the same: Whether a reasonable person with knowledge of all the facts would 19 conclude that the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” United States v. 20 Hernandez, 109 F.3d 1450, 1453 (9th Cir.1997) (per curiam) (brackets and internal quotation 21 marks omitted). 22 “Although the substantive test for bias or prejudice is identical in sections 144 and 455, the 23 procedural requirements of the two sections are different.” Sibla, 624 F.2d at 867. For § 144, 24 relief is conditioned upon the filing of a timely and legally sufficient affidavit. See id. (citing 25 Blum v. Gulf Oil Corp., 597 F.2d 936, 938 (5th Cir. 1979); United States v. Azhocar, 581 F.2d 26 735, 738–40 (9th Cir. 1978); United States v. Bennett, 539 F.2d 45, 51 (10th Cir. 1976)). If the 27 judge “determines that the accompanying affidavit specifically alleges facts stating grounds for 1 must be referred to another judge for a determination of its merits.” Id.; see also Civ. L.R. 3-14 2 (requiring that an affidavit of bias under § 144 be referred to another judge only where the 3 presiding judge “has determined not to recuse him or herself and found that the affidavit is neither 4 legally insufficient nor interposed for delay” (emphasis added)). 5 “Section 455, on the other hand, sets forth no procedural requirements. That section is 6 directed to the judge, rather than the parties, and is self-enforcing on the part of the judge,” with 7 “no provision for referral of the question of recusal to another judge.” Sibla, 624 F.2d at 868 8 (citing Davis v. Bd. of Sch. Comm’rs, 517 F.2d 1044, 1051 (5th Cir. 1975); Nicodemus v. Chrysler 9 Corp., 596 F.2d 152, 157 & n.10 (6th Cir. 1979)). Instead, a motion under § 455 requires a judge 10 to determine “whether all the circumstances call for recusal under the self-enforcing provisions of 11 section 455(a) & (b)(1), a matter which rests within the sound discretion of the judge.” Id. (citing 12 United States v. Schreiber, 599 F.2d 534, 536 (3d Cir. 1979)). 13 III. ANALYSIS 14 The Court first considers whether, for purpose of § 144, Drevaleva’s motion includes a 15 “legally sufficient” affidavit. An affidavit filed pursuant to § 144 is generally “not legally 16 sufficient unless it specifically alleges facts that fairly support the contention that the judge 17 exhibits bias or prejudice directed toward a party stemming from an extrajudicial source,” Sibla, 18 624 F.2d at 868, i.e., a source other than “conduct or rulings made during the course of the 19 proceeding,” see Toth v. Trans World Airlines, Inc., 862 F.2d 1381, 1388 (9th Cir. 1988) (finding 20 an affidavit “legally insufficient” where it was based on “conduct during the judicial proceeding”). 21 A judge’s views on legal issues also may not serve as the basis for motions to disqualify. 22 Azhocar, 581 F.2d at 738. As the Supreme Court has explained:
23 opinions formed by the judge on the basis of facts introduced or events occurring in the course of the current proceedings, or of prior 24 proceedings, do not constitute a basis for a bias or partiality motion unless they display a deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would 25 make fair judgment impossible. Thus, judicial remarks during the course of a trial that are critical or disapproving of, or even hostile to, 26 counsel, the parties, or their cases, ordinarily do not support a bias or partiality challenge. 27 Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555 (1994); see also United States v. Wilkerson, 208 F.3d ] 794, 799 (9th Cir. 2000) (“To disqualify a judge, the alleged bias must constitute animus more 2 || active and deep-rooted than an attitude of disapproval toward certain persons because of their 3 || known conduct.” (internal quotation marks omitted)).
Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI
1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 8 TATYANA EVGENIEVNA Case No. 18-cv-03748-JCS DREVALEVA, 9 ORDER DENYING MOTION TO Plaintiff, DISQUALIFY 10 v. 11 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS Re: Dkt. No. 369 12 AFFAIRS, et al., Defendants. 13
15 I. INTRODUCTION 16 Plaintiff Tatyana Drevaleva, pro se, moves to disqualify the undersigned magistrate judge 17 from this case. She states no reason for disqualification except that she is “disappointed” with the 18 Court’s rulings on her motions and in setting a schedule for the case, as well as speculation that 19 the Court “wants to intentionally and maliciously prolong [her] case.” See Drevaleva Decl. (dkt. 20 369-1) ¶ 14. For the reasons discussed below, the motion to disqualify is DENIED.1 21 II. LEGAL STANDARD 22 Drevaleva has not provided the Court with any legal basis for her motion. The Court 23 assumes that Drevaleva’s motion is made pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 144 and 455. Section 144 24 provides:
25 Whenever a party to any proceeding in a district court makes and files a timely and sufficient affidavit that the judge before whom the matter 26 is pending has a personal bias or prejudice either against him or in 27 favor of any adverse party, such judge shall proceed no further 1 therein, but another judge shall be assigned to hear such proceeding.
2 The affidavit shall state the facts and the reasons for the belief that bias or prejudice exists, and shall be filed not less than ten days before 3 the beginning of the term at which the proceeding is to be heard, or good cause shall be shown for failure to file it within such time. A 4 party may file only one such affidavit in any case. It shall be accompanied by a certificate of counsel of record stating that it is 5 made in good faith. 6 28 U.S.C. § 144. 7 Section 455 provides in relevant part:
8 (a) Any . . . magistrate judge . . . shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned. 9 (b) He shall also disqualify himself in the following circumstances: 10 (1) Where he has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party 11 . . . . 12 28 U.S.C. § 455(a)–(b). 13 “The test for personal bias or prejudice in section 144 is identical to that in section 14 455(b)(1), and the decisions interpreting this language in section 144 are controlling in the 15 interpretation of section 455(b)(1).” United States v. Sibla, 624 F.2d 864, 867 (citations omitted). 16 A motion properly brought under § 144 will therefore also raise a question concerning recusal 17 under section 455(b)(1). Id. “The substantive standard for recusal under 28 U.S.C. § 144 and 28 18 U.S.C. § 455 is the same: Whether a reasonable person with knowledge of all the facts would 19 conclude that the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” United States v. 20 Hernandez, 109 F.3d 1450, 1453 (9th Cir.1997) (per curiam) (brackets and internal quotation 21 marks omitted). 22 “Although the substantive test for bias or prejudice is identical in sections 144 and 455, the 23 procedural requirements of the two sections are different.” Sibla, 624 F.2d at 867. For § 144, 24 relief is conditioned upon the filing of a timely and legally sufficient affidavit. See id. (citing 25 Blum v. Gulf Oil Corp., 597 F.2d 936, 938 (5th Cir. 1979); United States v. Azhocar, 581 F.2d 26 735, 738–40 (9th Cir. 1978); United States v. Bennett, 539 F.2d 45, 51 (10th Cir. 1976)). If the 27 judge “determines that the accompanying affidavit specifically alleges facts stating grounds for 1 must be referred to another judge for a determination of its merits.” Id.; see also Civ. L.R. 3-14 2 (requiring that an affidavit of bias under § 144 be referred to another judge only where the 3 presiding judge “has determined not to recuse him or herself and found that the affidavit is neither 4 legally insufficient nor interposed for delay” (emphasis added)). 5 “Section 455, on the other hand, sets forth no procedural requirements. That section is 6 directed to the judge, rather than the parties, and is self-enforcing on the part of the judge,” with 7 “no provision for referral of the question of recusal to another judge.” Sibla, 624 F.2d at 868 8 (citing Davis v. Bd. of Sch. Comm’rs, 517 F.2d 1044, 1051 (5th Cir. 1975); Nicodemus v. Chrysler 9 Corp., 596 F.2d 152, 157 & n.10 (6th Cir. 1979)). Instead, a motion under § 455 requires a judge 10 to determine “whether all the circumstances call for recusal under the self-enforcing provisions of 11 section 455(a) & (b)(1), a matter which rests within the sound discretion of the judge.” Id. (citing 12 United States v. Schreiber, 599 F.2d 534, 536 (3d Cir. 1979)). 13 III. ANALYSIS 14 The Court first considers whether, for purpose of § 144, Drevaleva’s motion includes a 15 “legally sufficient” affidavit. An affidavit filed pursuant to § 144 is generally “not legally 16 sufficient unless it specifically alleges facts that fairly support the contention that the judge 17 exhibits bias or prejudice directed toward a party stemming from an extrajudicial source,” Sibla, 18 624 F.2d at 868, i.e., a source other than “conduct or rulings made during the course of the 19 proceeding,” see Toth v. Trans World Airlines, Inc., 862 F.2d 1381, 1388 (9th Cir. 1988) (finding 20 an affidavit “legally insufficient” where it was based on “conduct during the judicial proceeding”). 21 A judge’s views on legal issues also may not serve as the basis for motions to disqualify. 22 Azhocar, 581 F.2d at 738. As the Supreme Court has explained:
23 opinions formed by the judge on the basis of facts introduced or events occurring in the course of the current proceedings, or of prior 24 proceedings, do not constitute a basis for a bias or partiality motion unless they display a deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would 25 make fair judgment impossible. Thus, judicial remarks during the course of a trial that are critical or disapproving of, or even hostile to, 26 counsel, the parties, or their cases, ordinarily do not support a bias or partiality challenge. 27 Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555 (1994); see also United States v. Wilkerson, 208 F.3d ] 794, 799 (9th Cir. 2000) (“To disqualify a judge, the alleged bias must constitute animus more 2 || active and deep-rooted than an attitude of disapproval toward certain persons because of their 3 || known conduct.” (internal quotation marks omitted)). 4 Under that standard, Drevaleva’s motion and declaration are “legally insufficient,” because 5 she presents no facts suggesting that the Court has any bias against her “stemming from an 6 || extrajudicial source.” See Sibla, 624 F.2d at 868. Instead, she cites only the Court’s decisions in 7 || this case with which she disagrees. It is the role of the Court to make such decisions, and virtually 8 inevitable that one party or another will be dissatisfied with at least some of them. Mere 9 || disagreement with the Court’s decisions is not evidence of bias or grounds for disqualification. 10 || Because the motion is legally insufficient, the Court need not refer it to another judge. 11 Drevaleva’s motion to disqualify the Court is DENIED. 12 As for § 455, the Court has considered whether the instant motion identifies any ground 13 || upon which disqualification would be warranted, as well as whether there is any other ground for 14 || disqualification, and finds no such ground exists. The Court has no deep-seated favoritism or 3 15 antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible, nor is the Court aware of any 16 || circumstances that would cause its impartiality to reasonably be questioned. 2 17 |) IV. CONCLUSION Z 18 The Court finds no basis to refer Drevaleva’s motion to disqualify to another judge. For 19 the reasons discussed above, the motion is DENIED. 20 IT ISSO ORDERED. 21 Dated: May 11, 2021 22 23 é vat Magistrate Tudge 24 25 26 27 28