recusal
Americannoun
Explanation
In law, recusal is the act of a judge being disqualified (or disqualifying herself) because of a conflict of interest. A recusal, for example, would replace a judge if the defendant in a case was a relative. An attorney might ask for recusal if she overhears the judge saying something like, "Well it's obvious he's guilty — just look at those clothes he's wearing!" Before a case is decided, both judge and jury have to be completely unbiased and impartial for the result to be just. Recusal protects against a judge's bias. The word comes from recuse, "reject or challenge as disqualified to act."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The recusal is real on paper and largely empty in practice.
From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026
But on Tuesday, the parties were informed of the court's "recusal," meaning at least one of the three judges declared they could not rule "objectively or impartially," according to a statement from the plaintiffs.
From Barron's • Nov. 25, 2025
They govern the receipt and disclosure of gifts and set standards for recusal.
From Salon • Jan. 16, 2025
Then, on July 31, Trump’s lawyers submitted another motion for recusal.
From Slate • Aug. 20, 2024
Issy Maisels rose dramatically and applied for the recusal of Judges Ludorf and Rumpff on the grounds that both had conflicts of interest that prevented them from being fair arbiters of our case.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
