recuse

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.

The first records of the word recuse come from around the late 1300s. It ultimately derives from the Latin verb recūsāre, meaning “to object or demur.”

It’s hard to be objective. It’s even harder when you have a personal connection to whatever is being decided. That’s why people are expected to recuse themselves in such cases. It’s possible to recuse yourself in everyday situations, such as refusing to take sides in an argument between two friends. But the term is most commonly used in situations that are formal, official, and serious, such as trials and investigations. The act of recusing is typically done by judges, jurors, and government officials. Most often, it’s because the person has a personal connection to the case or has had some experience that makes them impartial.

Less commonly, the word refers not to the act of recusing oneself but to the act of recusing someone else, such as in the case of a judge who recuses a juror thought to be biased against the defendant.

What are some other forms of recuse?

• recusal (noun)
• recusation (noun)

What are some synonyms for recuse?

• disqualify
• withdraw
• reject

What are some words that share a root or word element with recuse? 

• recusant
• cause

What are some words that often get used in discussing recuse?

• conflict of interest
• remove
• case
• judge
• jury
• court
• decision
• vote

Recuse is most commonly used in a legal context. It’s closely associated with the phrase conflict of interest. 

Per transcript, Rick Dearborn backed his ex boss Jeff Sessions' decision to recuse himself. "I think the Attorney General always follows the law," he testified. Dearborn said Sessions "always liked" James Comey, whose firing intensified calls for special counsel to be named.

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) May 8, 2020

NEW: I just obtained these latest recusal forms from the courthouse in Glynn County. The entire Brunswick Judicial Circuit has recused themselves from the Ahmaud Arbery case officially and Prosecutor Joyette Holmes is leading the state's case. @cbs46 pic.twitter.com/a1c0K6L3fv

— Hayley Mason (@HayleyMasonTV) May 12, 2020

Justice Sonia Sotomayor is recusing herself from a #SCOTUS case over the issue of “faithless electors” — Electoral College representatives who disregard the will of voters in presidential elections — because of her friendship with one of the parties involved in the lawsuit.

— Sara A. Carter (@SaraCarterDC) March 10, 2020

True or False? 

Recusing is the same as resigning.