Summary
The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington denied Brittney C. Boyd’s motion seeking recusal of Judge Lauren King under 28 U.S.C. § 455. The court found that Boyd’s allegations of judicial bias, obstruction, conflicts of interest, and adverse rulings did not establish that the judge’s impartiality could reasonably be questioned. Judge King declined to recuse voluntarily and directed the Clerk to refer the motion to Chief Judge Estudillo under Local Civil Rule 3(f).
Court
United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
Jurisdiction
United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
Decision date
December 19, 2025
Docket number
2:25-cv-01225-LK
Disposition
other
Questions Presented
- Whether the allegations concerning the judge's prior rulings, alleged procedural conduct, threatened litigation, and former law-firm relationships required recusal under 28 U.S.C. § 455.
- Whether the challenged judge should voluntarily recuse under Western District of Washington Local Civil Rule 3(f).
Holdings
- Recusal was not required because the allegations did not establish that the judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned or that an appearance of bias existed.
- Recusal was not required under § 455(b)(2) because no former colleague represented a party in the same or a related matter during the judge's association with the firm.
- When the challenged judge declines to recuse voluntarily, the motion must be referred to the chief judge or the chief judge's designee under Local Civil Rule 3(f).
Court Document
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