THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals
The State, Respondent,
v.
Patrick Jackson, Appellant.
Appeal From Orangeburg County
James C. Williams, Jr., Circuit Court
Judge
Opinion No. 3612
Heard January 16, 2003 - Filed March
17, 2003
AFFIRMED
Chief Attorney Daniel T. Stacey, of SC Office of Appellate Defense, of Columbia; for Appellant.
Attorney General Henry Dargan McMaster; Chief Deputy Attorney General John W. McIntosh; Assistant Deputy Attorney General Donald J. Zelenka; Assistant Attorney General Derrick K. McFarland, of Columbia; Solicitor Walter M. Bailey, Jr., of Summerville; for Respondent.
GOOLSBY, J.: Patrick Jackson was convicted of and received concurrent sentences for murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, and carjacking. [1] Jackson appeals. We affirm.
FACTS
Prior to the commencement of trial, defense counsel put a motion for recusal on the record, having made the original motion in the trial judges chambers. The basis for the motion was that the trial judge was the deputy solicitor in Orangeburg County both when the crimes were committed and when Jackson was arrested. The judge was sworn in two days after Jacksons arrest. Defense counsel argued that the judge should recuse himself because he had been the chief law enforcement officer for the county during crucial points in the history of the case. The judge denied the motion, stating he had no knowledge of the case and had never discussed it with anyone from the solicitors office or any law enforcement agency.
LAW/ANALYSIS
Jackson contends the trial judge erred in denying the motion to recuse. We find this contention is without merit.
Pursuant to Canon 3(E)(1)(a) of Rule 501, SCACR, a judge should disqualify himself or herself in a proceeding in which the judges impartiality might reasonably be questioned. [2] It is not enough for a party seeking disqualification to simply allege bias or prejudice. The party must show some evidence of that bias or prejudice. [3] The alleged bias or prejudice must stem from an extra-judicial source and result in a decision based on information other than what the judge learned from his or her participation in the case as a judge. [4] If there is no evidence of judicial bias or prejudice, a judges failure to disqualify himself will not be reversed on appeal. [5]
The fact that the trial judge in this case was a deputy solicitor at the time Jackson allegedly committed the crime did not automatically warrant his recusal from the case without more. [6] The trial judge was unfamiliar with the case and had not discussed it, either with employees of the solicitors office or with any law enforcement agency. Indeed, Jackson offered no proof to the contrary. [7]
We further note the ultimate outcome of the case, Jacksons conviction, is fully supported by the record. [8] Jackson signed a statement in which he admitted: he was present at the commission of the crimes, he drove the carjacked vehicle, and he owned a green Honda Accord. Jackson also identified one of his co-conspirators in a photo lineup. Eyewitness testimony placed Jackson and at least one of his co-conspirators in a green Accord. A green Accord was seen trailing the carjacked vehicle. Jacksons sister also testified that, on the day of the carjacking, she witnessed Jackson and one of his co-conspirators walking down the dirt road where the carjacked vehicle and the victims body were eventually found. Given the strength of the evidence offered against Jackson at trial, there is no reason to question the trial judges impartiality. [9]
CONCLUSION
We find there was no error in the trial judges denial of Jacksons motion for recusal. [10] There is no reason to challenge the trial judges impartiality in this matter because the outcome of the case is supported by the record. [11] Accordingly, Jacksons convictions and sentences are
AFFIRMED.
HUFF and SHULER, JJ., concur.
[1] Jackson also received a consecutive sentence for contempt of court.
[2] See also Murphy v. Murphy, 319 S.C. 324, 461 S.E.2d 39 (1995).
[3] Roche v. Young Bros., Inc., of Florence, 332 S.C. 75, 504 S.E.2d 311 (1998).
[4] Payne v. Holiday Towers, Inc., 283 S.C. 210, 321 S.E.2d 179 (Ct. App. 1984).
[5] Ellis v. Procter & Gamble Distrib. Co., 315 S.C. 283, 433 S.E.2d 856 (1993).
[6] See Commw. v. Darush, 501 Pa. 15, 459 A.2d 727 (Pa. 1983) (holding that the trial court judge did not abuse his discretion in refusing to recuse himself on the basis that the offenses for which the defendant was convicted occurred when the trial judge was serving as district attorney, where he had taken a statement from a primary witness in the instant case and had prosecuted the defendant on unrelated charges); see also Laird v. Tatum, 409 U.S. 824 (1972) (where then-Justice Rehnquist held that his recusal was not warranted merely because he was an Assistant Attorney General while Laird was being investigated and prosecuted because Rehnquist did not have any advisory role in any matters involving Laird, had never signed a pleading or brief regarding the case, and had never personally participated in the trial or appeal); Donald v. Jones, 445 F.2d 601 (5th Cir. 1971) (holding that the defendant was not deprived of a fair and impartial trial because the judge who presided at his pretrial hearing was first assistant district attorney at the time of the commission of the offense because the judge had never heard of the defendant prior to assuming the bench, had not participated in the investigation of the case, and did not sit at the actual trial); Commw. v. Jones, 541 Pa. 351, 663 A.2d 142 (Pa. 1995) (holding that although the judges name had appeared on papers in connection with the defendants conviction, which had occurred while the judge was a district attorney, this did not warrant recusal absent a showing that the judge had any direct personal contact with defendants case during his prosecution and conviction); Rule 501, SCACR, Code of Jud. Conduct Cannon 3(E)(1)(a) (Commentary).
[7] See Roche, 332 S.C. at 85, 504 S.E.2d at 316 (If there is no evidence of judicial prejudice, a judges failure to disqualify himself will not be reversed on appeal.).
[8] A judge is not required to recuse himself when no evidence is presented other than claimed adverse rulings by the judge. Payne, 283 S.C. at 217, 321 S.E.2d at 183.
[9] See Ellis, 315 S.C. at 285, 433 S.E.2d at 857.
[10] For a general discussion of this particular issue, see Jay M. Zitter, Prior Representation or Activity as Prosecuting Attorney As Disqualifying Judge from Sitting or Acting in Criminal Case, 85 A.L.R. 5th 471 3 (2001).
[11] See Roche at 85, 504 S.E.2d at 316.