Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy has rejected a request by a defense attorney to have Youngstown Municipal Judge Carla Baldwin remove herself from hearing the case of a pilot charged after allegedly flying too close to the stadium during a YSU football game more than three years ago.

Christopher Wilkinson, 33, was charged with inducing panic, disorderly conduct and improper operation of an aircraft after authorities say his small plane flew near the home crowd in September 2019.

The case has been rescheduled three times so far with the trial scheduled for February 28. However, that hearing was postponed.

Wilkinson's lawyers filed a request in February telling Chief Justice Kennedy that "oddities and occurrences unveiled in his cases have undermined defendant Christopher Wilkinson's faith and confidence that he is capable of receiving an impartial trial."

Quoting from previous case law, Kennedy wrote "Adverse rulings, without more, are not evidence that a judge is biased or prejudiced,"

In a nine-page decision denial of the defense request released on Tuesday, the Chief Justice stated that attorney Patrick Espinoza essentially disagrees with Judge Baldwin's handling of Wilkinson's cases. Adding that counsel's "disagreement with the judge's handling of the case cannot supply the evidentiary showing necessary to remove a judge for bias.

Judge Baldwin has said that prior delays in Wilkinson's case were due to factors beyond the court's control, claiming that defense attorney Patrick Espinoza's motion to have the Judge withdraw from the case was because she refused to grant any further continuances.

In her response to Wilkinson's motion, Judge Baldwin said "I can without hesitation or reservation assert that remain ready, willing and able to preside over this case impartially and free of any bias to bring the matters to just resolution."