Smith v. Dretke, 541 U.S. 913 (2004). · Go Syfert
Smith v. Dretke, 541 U.S. 913 (2004). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
“the decision whether a judge's impartiality can reasonably be questioned is to be made in light of the facts as they existed, and not as they were surmised or reported," and "largely inaccurate and uninformed opinions cannot determine the recusal question.”
222 citation events (221 in the last 25 years) across 65 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Marva L. Russell Mason v. Secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs Agency (ohnd, 2025-11-03) · Strongest negative: In Re US (ca7, 2009-07-10)
Treatment trajectory · 1983 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1983 2004 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 50 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited "but see" In Re US
7th Cir. · 2009 · signal: but see · confidence high
R.107 at 1. [6] See, e.g., In re United States, 398 F.3d 615, 617 (7th Cir.2005); United States v. Boyd, 208 F.3d 638, 645 (7th Cir.2000); In re Hatcher, 150 F.3d 631, 637 (7th Cir.1998); United States v. Horton, 98 F.3d 313, 316-17 (7th Cir. 1996); Hook v. McDade, 89 F.3d 350 , 354 n. 2 (7th Cir. 1996); In re Mason, 916 F.2d 384, 385 (7th Cir.1990); Taylor v. O'Grady, 888 F.2d 1189 , 1201 (7th Cir.1989); United States v. Balistrieri, 779 F.2d 1191, 1204-05 (7th Cir.1985); SCA Servs., Inc. v. Morgan, 557 F.2d 110, 117-18 (7th Cir.1977); but see Boyd, 208 F.3d at 649-50 (Ripple, J., dissenting)…
discussed Cited "but see" United States v. J.P. Stadtmueller
7th Cir. · 2009 · signal: but see · confidence high
Co., 839 F.2d at 1229 .7 Of course, needless recusals exact a significant toll; judges therefore should exercise care in determining whether recusal is 6 (...continued) F.3d 350, 354 n.2 (7th Cir. 1996); In re Mason, 916 F.2d 384, 385 (7th Cir. 1990); Taylor v. O’Grady, 888 F.2d 1189 , 1201 (7th Cir. 1989); United States v. Balistrieri, 779 F.2d 1191 , 1204‐05 (7th Cir. 1985); SCA Servs., Inc. v. Morgan, 557 F.2d 110 , 117‐18 (7th Cir. 1977); but see Boyd, 208 F.3d at 649‐50 (Ripple, J., dissenting) (noting that this position is in tension with two decisions by the Supreme Court and ha…
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Marva L. Russell Mason v. Secretary of Department of Veterans Affairs Agency
N.D. Ohio · 2025 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
that is why federal law provides for automatic substitution of the new officer when the originally named officer has been replaced.
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Sanai v. Kozinski (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
N.D. Cal. · 2021 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
since i do not believe my impartiality can 26 reasonably be questioned, i do not think it would be proper for me to recuse. that alone is 27 conclusive
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) FIELDS v. AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC.
E.D. Pa. · 2020 · signal: see also · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
the decision whether a judge's impartiality can reasonably be questioned is to be made in light of the facts as they existed, and not as they were surmised or reported," and "largely inaccurate and uninformed opinions cannot determine the recusal question.
examined Cited as authority (quoted) In Re Catherine R. Connors
Me. · 2026 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
the people must have conidence in the integrity of the justices, and that cannot exist in a system that assumes them to be corruptible by the slightest friendship or favor, and in an atmosphere where the press will be eager to ind foot-faults.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) 4E Brands Northamerica LLC and Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
Bankr. S.D. Tex. · 2023 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
his court has ruled, in factually limiting circumstances, that friendship between the judge and a person with an interest in the case is not sufficient grounds to reverse a judge's failure to recuse.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Caffa-Mobley v. Carter
W.D. Ky. · 2021 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
that is why federal law provides for the automatic substitution of the new officer when the originally named officer has been replaced.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) City of Milwaukee v. J. P. Stadtmueller (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
7th Cir. · 2015 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
e decide ... whether a reasonable, wellinformed observer could question the judge's impartiality.
discussed Cited as authority (quoted) Buie v. Berrien
D.D.C. · 2015 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence low
ed-eral law provides for automatic substitution of the new officer when the originally named officer has been replaced.
examined Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Allen (3×) also: Cited "see"
D.D.C. · 2026 · confidence medium
Ct. for D.C., 541 U.S. 913 (2004) (Scalia, J., in chambers). “[W]hile friendship is a ground for recusal of a Justice where the personal fortune or the personal freedom of the friend is at issue,” he observed, “it has traditionally not been a ground for recusal where official action is at issue, no matter how important the official action was to the ambitions or the reputation of the Government officer.” Id. at 916.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cyrus Sanai v. Alex Kozinski (2×)
9th Cir. · 2026 · confidence medium
Ct. for the Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 916 (2004) (Scalia, J., respecting recusal) (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 455 (a)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Joshua M. Moore v. Marty Jackley, in his official capacity as Attorney General of South Dakota; Ernest Thompson, in his official capacity as Deputy Attorney General of South Dakota
D.S.D. · 2026 · confidence medium
Ct., 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004) (Memo. of Scalia, J.) (emphasis in original) (citation omitted).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Jana v. Walmart, Inc.
E.D. Tex. · 2025 · confidence medium
From the perspective of a reasonable observer who is informed of all the surrounding facts and circumstances, Cheney, 541 U.S. at 924, my impartiality could not reasonably be questioned.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Trejo v. Abbott
W.D. Tex. · 2024 · confidence medium
Ct. for Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004), which the Fifth Circuit has interpreted to mean that “[courts] ask how things appear to the well–informed, thoughtful and objective observer, rather than the hypersensitive, cynical, and suspicious person,” while keeping in mind that “an observer of our judicial system is less likely to credit judges’ impartiality than the judiciary” would be.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Martinez
10th Cir. · 2024 · confidence medium
Ct. for the Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 914 (2004) (mem.) (Scalia, J.) (“The decision whether a judge’s impartiality can ‘reasonably be questioned’ is to be made in light of the facts as they existed, and not as they were surmised or reported.”) (quoting Microsoft Corp. v. United States, 530 U.S. 1301, 1302 (2000) (mem.) (Rehnquist, C.J.)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Delgado v. Donald J. Trump For President, Inc.
S.D.N.Y. · 2024 · confidence medium
Of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004) (Scalia, J.) (denying recusal motion and explaining that “a blast of largely inaccurate and uninformed opinion cannot determine the recusal question”).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Hoff v. Joyce
D.N.D. · 2024 · confidence medium
Ct., 541 U.S. 913, 916 (2004) (Memo. of Scalia, J.).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Washington v. Wang
M.D. Fla. · 2023 · confidence medium
“The decision whether a judge’s impartiality can ‘reasonably be questioned’ is to be made in light of the facts as they existed, and not as they were surmised or reported.” Cheney, 541 U.S. at 914.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Schwarzer v. Shanklin
E.D. Tex. · 2023 · confidence medium
Ct. for Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004) (emphases added); see also United States v. Morrison, 833 F.3d 491, 506 (5th Cir. 2016), cert. denied, 137 S. Ct. 1098 (2017).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Snarr v. United States
E.D. Tex. · 2023 · confidence medium
Ct. for Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Garcia v. United States
E.D. Tex. · 2023 · confidence medium
Ct. for Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Knight v. Phillips
D. Neb. · 2023 · confidence medium
Court for Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004) (quotation omitted).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Finan v. Access Care General, LLC
E.D. Mo. · 2022 · confidence medium
Ct., 541 U.S. 913, 916 (2004) (Memo. of Scalia, J.).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Knotts v. Marra
S.D.W. Va · 2022 · confidence medium
“The decision whether a judge's impartiality can ‘reasonably be questioned’ is to be made in light of the facts as they existed, and not as they were surmised[.]” Cheney v. United States District Court for Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 914 (2004) (Scalia, J.).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Townsend v. Foley
N.D. Ohio · 2022 · confidence medium
“The decision whether a judge’s impartiality can ‘reasonably be questioned’ is to be made in light of the facts as they existed, and not as they were surmised or reported.” Cheney v. United States District Court for the District of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 914 (2004).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Reinoehl v. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2×) also: Cited "see"
N.D. Ind. · 2022 · confidence medium
Court for Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004) (Scalia, J., sitting alone) (quoting Microsoft Corp. v. United States, 530 U.S. 1301, 1302 (2000)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Arkansas State Conference NAACP v. Arkansas Board of Apportionment (2×)
E.D. Ark. · 2022 · confidence medium
Court for Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 916 (2004) (Scalia, J., sitting as a single justice). 27 Id. at 920 . depend upon what degree of political damage a particular case can be expected to inflict.28 Plaintiffs suggest (without case law support) that this case is different from other official- capacity cases because Governor Hutchinson voted for the 2021 reapportionment plan.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Franklin v. Department of Health & Human Services
D. Neb. · 2021 · confidence medium
Court for Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004); O'Bannon v. Union Pac.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Moderson v. City of Neenah
E.D. Wis. · 2021 · confidence medium
Ct. for Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 914 (2004) (internal quotations omitted).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Allen v. American Cyanamid Co
E.D. Wis. · 2021 · confidence medium
Court, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004) (Scalia, J., in chambers)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Trammell v. American Cyanamid Co
E.D. Wis. · 2021 · confidence medium
Court, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004) (Scalia, J., in chambers)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Burton v. American Cyanamid Co
E.D. Wis. · 2021 · confidence medium
Court, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004) (Scalia, J., in chambers)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Valoe v. American Cyanamid Co
E.D. Wis. · 2021 · confidence medium
Court, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004) (Scalia, J., in chambers)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Gibson v. American Cyanamid Co
E.D. Wis. · 2021 · confidence medium
Court, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004) (Scalia, J., in chambers)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) ACKIE v. PHILADELPHIA GAS WORKS
E.D. Pa. · 2020 · confidence medium
Ct. for the Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 914 (2004) (Scalia, J.) (citing Microsoft Corp. v. United States, 530 U.S. 1301, 1302 (2000) (Rehnquist, C.J., respecting recusal)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) DEAN v. PHILADELPHIA GAS WORKS
E.D. Pa. · 2020 · confidence medium
Ct. for the Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 914 (2004) (Scalia, J.) (citing Microsoft Corp. v. United States, 530 U.S. 1301, 1302 (2000) (Rehnquist, C.J., respecting recusal)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) GOODWIN v. PHILADELPHIA GAS WORKS
E.D. Pa. · 2020 · confidence medium
Ct. for the Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 914 (2004) (Scalia, J.) (citing Microsoft Corp. v. United States, 530 U.S. 1301, 1302 (2000) (Rehnquist, C.J., respecting recusal)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) CHAVARRIA v. PHILADELPHIA GAS WORKS
E.D. Pa. · 2020 · confidence medium
Ct. for the Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 914 (2004) (Scalia, J.) (citing Microsoft Corp. v. United States, 530 U.S. 1301, 1302 (2000) (Rehnquist, C.J., respecting recusal)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) RAUCEO v. PHILADELPHIA GAS WORKS
E.D. Pa. · 2020 · confidence medium
Ct. for the Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 914 (2004) (Scalia, J.) (citing Microsoft Corp. v. United States, 530 U.S. 1301, 1302 (2000) (Rehnquist, C.J., respecting recusal)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) WALTON v. FIRST MERCHANTS BANK
S.D. Ind. · 2020 · confidence medium
Court, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) File v. Kastner
E.D. Wis. · 2020 · confidence medium
Court, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004) (Scalia, J., in chambers)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Shawn Bradley Hills - Adversary Proceeding
Bankr. C.D. Ill. · 2019 · confidence medium
The Allegations of Mr. Sides and the Debtor are Based on Misstatements of Fact, Law, or Both “The decision whether a judge’s impartiality can ‘reasonably be questioned’ is to be made in light of the facts as they existed, and not as they were surmised or reported.” Cheney, 541 U.S. at 914.
cited Cited as authority (rule) SouthLaw, PC v. Swanson
D. Neb. · 2019 · confidence medium
Court for Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004); O'Bannon v. Union Pac.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) (PC) Corral v. Martinez
E.D. Cal. · 2019 · confidence medium
In re Marshall, 721 F.3d 2 | 1032, 1041 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Cheney v. U.S. District Court, 541 U.S. 913, 924 (2004)). 3 | For all of these reasons, plaintiff's motion for recusal is denied. 4 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiffs motion to disqualify the 5 | undersigned (ECF No. 6), construed as a motion for recusal, is denied. 6 | Dated: September 13, 2019 Fens Arn g KENDALL J.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cooper v. United States Department of Veterans Affairs
N.D. Ill. · 2018 · confidence medium
This objective inquiry is made “in light of the facts as they existed, not as they were surmised or reported.” Cheney v. United States District Court for the District of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 914 (2004).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cooper v. Shulkin
N.D. Ill. · 2018 · confidence medium
This objective inquiry is made “in light of the facts as they existed, not as they were surmised or reported.” Cheney v. United States District Court for the District of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 914 (2004).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State of Delaware v. Wright. (2×)
Del. Super. Ct. · 2014 · confidence medium
The other “undersigned prosecutor” had considerably more 109 Lawrence v. Bloomfield Twp., 313 F. A’ppx. 743, 79 (6th Cir. 2008). 110 Cheney, 541 U.S. at 916 (emphasis in original). 44 experience, but he could not name any judge who had recused himself because of friendship with a witness, neither could he recall anything about when this last occurred or even how often it had occurred. 111 In its motion the State argued, again without supporting legal authority, that I should recuse myself because I might be required to rule on evidentiary objections during Captain Browne’s testimony.11…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Richard Hurles v. Charles L. Ryan
9th Cir. · 2014 · confidence medium
Ct. for the Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 929 (2004) (Scalia, J.) (explaining his friendship with then-Vice President Cheney, and deciding not to recuse himself from a case in which Cheney was a nominal party); Microsoft Corp. v. United States, 530 U.S. 1301 , 1301–02 (2000) (Rehnquist, C.J.) (discussing his son’s representation of Microsoft in another matter, but deciding 60 HURLES V.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Richard Hurles v. Charles L. Ryan
9th Cir. · 2013 · confidence medium
Ct. for the Dist. of Columbia, 541 U.S. 913, 929 (2004) (Scalia, J.) (explaining his friendship with then-Vice President Cheney, and deciding not to recuse himself from a case in which Cheney was a nominal party); Microsoft Corp. v. United States, 530 U.S. 1301 , 1301–02 (2000) (Rehnquist, C.J.) (discussing his son’s representation of Microsoft in another matter, but deciding not to recuse himself because no “well-informed individual would conclude that an appearance of impropriety exists”); Perry v. Schwarzenegger, 630 F.3d 909, 912 (9th Cir. 2011) (Reinhardt, J.) (discussing his rela…
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
SMITH
v.
DRETKE, DIRECTOR, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS DIVISION.
02-11309.
Supreme Court of the United States.
Mar 18, 2004.
541 U.S. 913

C. A. 5th Cir. [Certiorari granted, 539 U. S. 986.] Writ of certiorari dismissed under this Court's Rule 46.1. Reported below: 311 F. 3d 661.