Given that both federal and state stutues contain sentencing guidelines, how likely is it that a prejudicial claim about a sentence due to personal bias would succeed?
It's very unlikely. The discretionary aspects of sentencing are almost never disturbed on appeal when the sentence falls within standard ranges of sentencing. Even sentences that are in aggravated ranges almost always stand if reasons are placed on the record.
The only times I've seen cases remanded for resentencing were when either the sentence exceeded the maximum, suggested aggravated range of sentencing (and that was only to allow the judge place reasons on the record), or there was a misstatement of fact during the guilty plea colloquy.
