ORDER

PAIGE J. GOSSETT, Magistrate Judge.

This social security matter is before the court on multiple motions of the plaintiff, Eric Alan Sanders, to recuse the assigned magistrate judge. (ECF Nos. 10, 20, & 35.) Finding no basis for recusal, the court denies Sanders's motions.

Recusal of federal judges is generally governed by 28 U.S.C. § 455.1 Subsection (a) of § 455 provides that "[a]ny justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned." In the Fourth Circuit, this standard is analyzed objectively by considering whether a person with knowledge of the relevant facts and circumstances might reasonably question the judge's impartiality. United States v. Cherry, 330 F.3d 658, 665 (4th Cir. 2003). For purposes of this statute, the hypothetical "reasonable person" is not a judge, since judges, who are trained to regard matters impartially and are keenly aware of that obligation, "may regard asserted conflicts to be more innocuous than an outsider would." United States v. DeTemple, 162 F.3d 279, 287 (4th Cir. 1998). The "reasonable person" is a "wellinformed, thoughtful observer," but not one who is "hypersensitive or unduly suspicious." In re Mason, 916 F.2d 384, 386 (7th Cir. 1990).

Section 455(a) does not require recusal "simply because of unsupported, irrational or highly tenuous speculation," or because a judge "possesses some tangential relationship to the proceedings." Cherry, 330 F.3d at 665 (internal quotation omitted). The Fourth Circuit recognizes that overly cautious recusal would improperly allow litigants to exercise a "negative veto" over the assignment of judges simply by hinting at impropriety. DeTemple, 162 F.3d at 287. Recusal decisions under § 455(a) are "fact-driven and may turn on subtleties in the particular case." United States v. Holland, 519 F.3d 909, 913 (9th Cir. 2008).

Subsection (b) of § 455 further provides a list of specific instances where a federal judge's recusal is mandated, regardless of the perception of a reasonable observer. Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 567 (1994) (Kennedy, J., concurring). Pertinent here, § 455(b)(1) disqualifies a judge "[w]here he has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party." 28 U.S.C. § 455(b)(1). Bias or prejudice must be proven by compelling evidence. Brokaw v. Mercer Cty., 235 F.3d 1000, 1025 (7th Cir. 2000). Moreover, the United States Supreme Court has made clear that to warrant disqualification, "[t]he alleged bias or prejudice . . . must stem from an extrajudicial source . . . other than what the judge learned from his participation in the case." United States v. Grinnell Corp., 384 U.S. 563, 583 (1966). In applying the extrajudicial source doctrine, the Supreme Court has held that

Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555 (1994) (citation omitted).

Here, Sanders argues that the assigned magistrate judge's rulings in prior cases displayed discriminatory animus towards his mental disabilities when she recommended dismissal of his case for his failure to attend his deposition. He requests that his case be reassigned to a different magistrate judge.

Importantly, Sanders points to no extrajudicial source of bias or prejudice. Moreover, as stated above, mere disagreement with judicial rulings and unsupported allegations of bias are insufficient to warrant recusal. Accordingly, it is

ORDERED that the plaintiff's motions to recuse are denied.

IT IS SO ORDERED.