recuse
verb
re·cuse ri-ˈkyüz 
recused; recusing
transitive verb
: to disqualify (oneself) as judge in a particular case
broadly : to remove (oneself) from participation to avoid a conflict of interest
recusal
ri-ˈkyü-zəl
noun 
Did you know?
Recuse is derived from the Middle French word recuser, which comes from the Latin recusare, meaning "to refuse." English speakers began using recuse with the meaning "to refuse or reject" in the 14th century. By the 15th century, the term had acquired the meaning "to challenge or object to (a judge)." The current legal use of recuse as a term specifically meaning "to disqualify (oneself) as a judge" didn't come into frequent use until the 19th century. Broader applications soon followed from this sense—you can now recuse yourself from such things as debates and decisions as well as court cases.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Remington's comments were part of a Wednesday ruling denying a motion by the Assembly's office to recuse himself from presiding over a public records dispute between the liberal group American Oversight and the Office of Special Counsel. 
Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2022 Green denied a motion from Rosenzweig to recuse from the case. Tracy Neal, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2022 House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy echoed that sentiment when asked by CNN's Melanie Zanona whether the justice should recuse himself from cases going forward. Jamie Gangel And Zachary Cohen, CNN, 28 Mar. 2022 Skandalakis was appointed last year to take over the case after a judge allowed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to recuse herself and her office. Sudhin Thanawala And Kate Brumback, USA TODAY, 24 Aug. 2022 The judges rejected numerous attempts by Najib over the past week to delay a ruling, including his filing of a last-minute motion to recuse the country’s chief justice, Maimun Tuan Mat, who headed the panel. Richard C. Paddock, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 The Attorney General’s Office took over prosecution of the charges against Bowman after his attorneys asked a court to recuse the local prosecutor, 4th Judicial District Attorney Robert Tew. Kevin Mcgill, ajc, 28 July 2022 Evergreen Walk asked that Dexter recuse herself, claiming that remark was prejudicial. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2022 Any new revelations about Thomas’s actions after the 2020 presidential election are likely to further intensify questions about whether Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from cases related to the election and attempts to subvert it. Jacqueline Alemany, Josh Dawsey And Emma Brown, Anchorage Daily News, 16 June 2022 See More
Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2022 Green denied a motion from Rosenzweig to recuse from the case. Tracy Neal, Arkansas Online, 4 Aug. 2022 House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy echoed that sentiment when asked by CNN's Melanie Zanona whether the justice should recuse himself from cases going forward. Jamie Gangel And Zachary Cohen, CNN, 28 Mar. 2022 Skandalakis was appointed last year to take over the case after a judge allowed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to recuse herself and her office. Sudhin Thanawala And Kate Brumback, USA TODAY, 24 Aug. 2022 The judges rejected numerous attempts by Najib over the past week to delay a ruling, including his filing of a last-minute motion to recuse the country’s chief justice, Maimun Tuan Mat, who headed the panel. Richard C. Paddock, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2022 The Attorney General’s Office took over prosecution of the charges against Bowman after his attorneys asked a court to recuse the local prosecutor, 4th Judicial District Attorney Robert Tew. Kevin Mcgill, ajc, 28 July 2022 Evergreen Walk asked that Dexter recuse herself, claiming that remark was prejudicial. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2022 Any new revelations about Thomas’s actions after the 2020 presidential election are likely to further intensify questions about whether Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from cases related to the election and attempts to subvert it. Jacqueline Alemany, Josh Dawsey And Emma Brown, Anchorage Daily News, 16 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, to refuse, reject, from Anglo-French recuser, from Latin recusare
First Known Use
1829, in the meaning defined above
Legal Definition
recuse
transitive verb
re·cuse ri-ˈkyüz
recused; recusing
1
: to challenge or object to (as a judge) as having prejudice or a conflict of interest
2
: to disqualify (as oneself or another judge or official) for a proceeding by a judicial act because of prejudice or conflict of interest
an order recusing the district attorney from any proceeding may be appealed by the district attorney or the Attorney General California Penal Code
California Penal Code