COLLEEN KOLLAR-KOTELLY, District Judge.
Presently before the Court is Plaintiff's [59] "Response Motion," in which Plaintiff requests that the Court recuse itself because of "a serious conflict of interest." Pl.'s Mot. at 1. Plaintiff argues that the Court should disqualify itself and reassign this matter to a new judge for further proceedings. Specifically, Plaintiff argues that a conflict of interest exists because the Court dismissed another action filed by Plaintiff, Shipman v. Disabled American Veterans (15-cv-871),
The disqualification of a federal judicial officer is governed by 28 U.S.C. § 455, which provides, in pertinent part:
28 U.S.C. § 455(a), (b)(1).
In assessing section 455(a) motions for recusal, the D.C. Circuit applies an "objective" standard: "Recusal is required when `a reasonable and informed observer would question the judge's impartiality.'" S.E.C. v. Loving Spirit Found., Inc., 392 F.3d 486, 493 (D.C. Cir. 2004) (quoting United States v. Microsoft Corp., 253 F.3d 34, 114 (D.C. Cir. 2001), cert. denied, 534 U.S. 952 (2001)). Further, a party moving for recusal pursuant to Section 455(a) "must demonstrate the court's reliance on an `extrajudicial source' that creates an appearance of partiality or, in rare cases, where no extrajudicial source is involved, . . . a deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible." Middlebrooks v. St. Coletta of Greater Washington, Inc., 710 F.Supp.2d 77, 78 (D.D.C.2010), aff'd, 2011 WL 1770464 (D.C. Cir. Apr. 4, 2011), cert. denied, 132 S.Ct. 243 (2011) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). A party moving for recusal pursuant to Section 455(b) must likewise demonstrate "actual bias or prejudice based upon an extrajudicial source." Id. at 79 (citations omitted).
Plaintiff's request for disqualification is based on the undersigned District Court Judge's rulings in this action and in another case brought by Plaintiff, Shipman v. Disabled American Veterans. However, "judicial rulings are almost never grounds for a claim of bias or impartiality." Ramos v. U.S. Dep't of Justice, 682 F.Supp.2d 20, 24 (D.D.C. 2010). Plaintiff does not explain how the Court's ruling against him in Disabled American Veterans would prevent the fair adjudication of this case. Moreover, while Plaintiff claims that the Court has "ignored [his] interests as Plaintiff in favor of Defendant's attorneys," Plaintiff does not explain how the Court has done so in a fashion that would make fair adjudication impossible. Although Plaintiff claims that the judicial system as a whole is biased against African-American litigants, he points to no evidence of judicial bias by the undersigned Judge. Nor has Plaintiff identified any extrajudicial acts by this Court that demonstrate pervasive bias or prejudice against Plaintiffs. See Middlebrooks, 710 F. Supp. 2d at 78. Accordingly, the Court concludes that Plaintiff has not demonstrated a basis for disqualification, and the Court DENIES Plaintiff's request for disqualification.
For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby
It is further