In Re Tapply

The petitioner, Erica Tapply, appeals an order of the Trial Court {Lynn, C.J.) denying her motion for judicial disqualification. The sole issue on appeal is whether the trial judge, who presided over this prolonged, contentious dispute concerning the parenting rights of the respondent, Benjamin Zukatis, erred by not granting Tapply’s repeated requests to recuse himself. We affirm.

We begin with a recitation of the facts taken from hearing transcripts and court orders. In June 2003, Tapply and Zukatis met in Hudson and began dating. Tapply became pregnant shortly after the relationship began…