State v. Baker

495 N.E.2d 976, 25 Ohio Misc. 2d 11, 25 Ohio B. 232, 1984 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 223
CourtCourt of Common Pleas of Ohio, Hamilton County
DecidedDecember 18, 1984
DocketNos. 84-TRC-16463 and -33556A
StatusPublished
Cited by19 cases

This text of 495 N.E.2d 976 (State v. Baker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Common Pleas of Ohio, Hamilton County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Baker, 495 N.E.2d 976, 25 Ohio Misc. 2d 11, 25 Ohio B. 232, 1984 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 223 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1984).

Opinion

Crush, J.

In each of the above-captioned cases an affidavit of bias and prejudice was filed by each of the respective defense attorneys. Since both cases involve closely related issues, they will be handled together.

This court is empowered by statute (R.C. 2937.20) to examine into the claims of bias and prejudice and to make the appropriate finding. A hearing is not required inasmuch as the affidavits provide sufficient information.

The Patton case involves a motion to mitigate filed, and not yet decided, on behalf of a defendant who has already been sentenced. The Baker case involves a defendant who has not yet been brought to trial.

[12]*12The attorney’s affidavit in the Patton case reads in part as follows:

“* * * [T]he Honorable Deidra Hair * * * has advised counsel in the past that it is her policy to give a second [DUI] * * * offender a maximum sentence of * * * 3.80 * * * days in the Community Correctional Institute regardless of any mitigating factors surrounding his arrest * * *.”

The attorney’s affidavit in the Baker case reads in part as follows:

“* * * [A]t the pretrial conference Judge Hair advised the Defendant that, as a second offender, she would sentence him to * * * 180 * * * days in the Community Correctional Institute, the maximum sentence, upon a no contest plea ** *.”

The affidavit of defendant Baker reads in part as follows:

“At the pretrial conference * * * the City Prosecutor asked affiant if he had a lawyer. Affiant indicated that he did not * * *. The Prosecutor said T hate to tell you this, but the Judge gives all second offenders 180 days’ * * *. [Ajffiant * * * states that * * * he went into Judge Hair’s chambers along with the City Prosecutor. At that time Judge Hair informed him, ‘I give 180 days to second offenders, but I’ll give you work release since you have a job.’ ”

Judge Hair has presented an affidavit as to each case, which in part reads as follows:

Patton: “* * * [A]ll relevant mitigating facts and circumstances were considered prior to * * * defendant’s sentence * * *. Affiant further states that she has no personal knowledge of the facts of this case, and has no bias or prejudice regarding this particular defendant.”
Baker: “* * * The defendant was specifically advised, as is each and every pro se defendant, of the possible maximum fine. In this case that was one year in the Workhouse, as opposed to six months as alleged in * * * [the] * * * affidavit. At no time was the defendant advised that he would receive the maximum sentence on either or both of the * * * charges. I have no personal knowledge of the defendant, or of the facts alleged. * * *”

Judge Hair does not specifically deny that she uniformly imposes a six-month sentence for second offender “DUIs.” The court will, therefore, assume, for the purposes of deciding these matters, that Judge Hair does follow such a policy.

Both defendants allege that Judge Hair is biased and prejudiced against them because of a set sentencing policy which does not allow a consideration of all the relevant sentencing factors required by law.

A judge is presumed not to be biased:

“Bias or prejudice on the part of a judge will not be presumed. In fact, the law presumes that a'judge is unbiased and unprejudiced in the matters over which he presides, and bias or prejudice must be strong enough to overcome the presumption of his integrity.” 48A Corpus Juris Secundum (1981) 731, Judges, Section 108.

Generally, the prejudice must be against a particular individual:

“Generally, bias or prejudice which will disqualify a judge is a personal one for or against a party to the cause, which must stem from an extrajudicial source and result in an opinion on the merits on some basis other than what the judge learned from his participation in the case.” 48A Corpus Juris Secun-dum (1981) 735-736, Judges, Section 110.
“The basis of the disqualification of a judge for bias or prejudice is that personal bias or prejudice, for or against a party, renders the judge unable to exer[13]*13cise his functions impartially in the particular case.” 46 American Jurisprudence 2d (1969) 197, Judges, Section 166.

Nothing presented in the defendants’ affidavits points to a personal bias against either defendant. Rather, the bias, if any, must be construed to be against an entire group of defendants, to wit: those convicted a second time of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Prejudice against a whole group of defendants can be the basis of removal for bias and prejudice:

“There is an exception to such rule, however, where such pervasive bias and prejudice is shown by otherwise judicial conduct as would constitute bias against a party.” 48A Corpus Juris Secundum (1981) 738, Judges, Section 110.

The question then presents itself whether Judge Hair has shown such a pervasive prejudice against a group of defendants that she should be removed from these cases. The alleged prejudice pertains to a sentencing policy which allows no variation and no concern for the various sentencing factors required by R.C. 2929.22.

R.C. 2929.22 provides, in pertinent summary, that the court shall consider the following criteria in imposing sentence for a misdemeanor: likelihood of another offense; need to protect the public; nature and circumstances of the offense; history, character and condition of the offender; need for rehabilitative treatment; and ability and resources of the offender. Additionally said section lists the following factor as supporting a heavier sentence: to wit, defendant is a repeat or dangerous offender. Finally, said section refers to R.C. 2929.12 for additional factors supporting a lesser penalty: offender did not threaten serious physical harm to persons or property; substantial grounds tending to excuse or justify the offense; strong provocation; and lack of substantial prior delinquency or criminal activity.

Generally, a judge is presumed to have considered the necessary criteria in imposing sentence:

“* * * [I]n the absence of a showing to the contrary, a judge is presumed to have considered in the sentencing process the standards of the applicable statute.” State v. Gravitt (Oct. 12, 1983), Hamilton App. No. C-820762, unreported, at 4-5.
“The law does not require * * * that the court recite on the record its reasons for imposing a sentence.” State v. Bentley (May 6, 1981), Hamilton App. No. C-800378, unreported, at 2.

Thus, the court must consider such criteria, even if reasons are not given.

“In imposing sentence for a misdemeanor, a trial court must consider the factors set forth in R.C. 2929.22.” Miamisburg v. Smith (1982), 5 Ohio App. 3d 109, paragraph two of the syllabus.

If the court fails to present any indication that the sentencing criteria were considered, the court commits error:

“* * * [W]here * * * the felon is presented to the court for sentencing immediately after he has been tried and found guilty of an offense, and there ensues * ■* * a * * * discussion * * * without any

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
495 N.E.2d 976, 25 Ohio Misc. 2d 11, 25 Ohio B. 232, 1984 Ohio Misc. LEXIS 223, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-baker-ohctcomplhamilt-1984.