Kernrechtsfrage
Whether the presiding judge's alleged ties and conduct created an appearance of bias requiring annulment
Extrahierter Entscheid
No objectively justified appearance of bias was shown; the recusal complaint fails.
Extrahierte Begründung
The judge's former law-office link with counsel was many years earlier, and no ongoing contact or negotiation during the pending case was credibly shown. The alleged signals at the hearing did not establish bias.