In Re Disqualification of Kimbler

On December 30, 1987, a common pleas judge denied each appellant’s application to disqualify Judge James L. Kimbler, a municipal court judge, under R.C. 2937.20, from presiding over his or her misdemeanor case. Attorney Robert Schultz represented each of the seven appellants, named as defendants and charged with various traffic and criminal offenses. An appeal was taken and a motion to dismiss the appeal was filed by the prosecution, contending that the common pleas judge’s ruling is not a final appealable order.

The issue this court must first address is whether a ruling by a common pleas…