recuse

[ri-kyooz]

verb (used with object)

recused, recusing 

1. to reject or challenge (a judge, juror, or attorney) as disqualified to act in a particular case, especially because of potential conflict of interest or bias.

2. to disqualify or withdraw (oneself or another person) from any position of judging or decision-making so as to avoid the appearance of personal interest or bias.

   The senator has recused himself from the vote because of his prior association with the company.

verb (used without object)

recused, recusing 

1. to withdraw from any position of judging or decision-making so as to avoid a semblance of personal interest or bias.

recuse

/ rɪˈkjuːz, rəˈkjuːz /

verb

1. (tr; reflexive) to remove from participation in a court case due to potential prejudice or partiality

Other Word Forms

• recusal noun
• recusation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of recuse¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English recusen, from Middle French recuser, and from Latin recūsāre “to demur, object”; recusant

Word History and Origins

Origin of recuse¹

C19: see _recusant

Example Sentences

A Belgian court case brought by a farmer seeking compensation from oil giant TotalEnergies for damage caused by climate change was suspended after the judging panel recused itself, both parties said Tuesday.

Read more on Barron's

“I don’t know who they’re a subcontractor with, but I don’t work with them because I have a conflict of interest and I fully recused myself,” she said.

Read more on Salon

Senior Judge J. Michael Seabright from the District of Hawaii was brought in to oversee the case after federal judges in Los Angeles recused themselves.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Tabet did not disclose that the company was registered to her daughter or recuse herself from the vote.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Once named as the border czar, Homan said he would recuse himself from contracting, saying he would have no “involvement, discussion, input, or decision of any future government contracts.”

Read more on Salon

When To Use

What does recuse mean?

Recuse most commonly means to withdraw from being in the position of judging a case or presiding over an investigation so as to avoid any partiality or bias.This sense of the word is used reflexively, meaning it’s always followed by a reflexive pronoun, as in recuse yourself, recuse himself, recuse themselves.Less commonly, recuse can mean to reject or challenge a judge or juror due to the belief that they are biased.In both senses, recusing is typically done to avoid a conflict of interest—a situation in which the person doing the voting, judging, or investigating has some personal connection to the case that could influence their decision.People who recuse themselves aren’t resigning—they’re officially excusing themselves from participating.Example: When I was called for jury duty, I knew the man who was on trial so I had to recuse myself.