Judicial disqualification, also referred to as recusal, is the act of abstaining from participation in an official action such as a legal proceeding due to a conflict of interest of the presiding court official or administrative officer.

What recusal means?

transitive verb. : to disqualify (oneself) as judge in a particular case broadly : to remove (oneself) from participation to avoid a conflict of interest.

Who hears a recusal application?

When faced with an application for recusal a magistrate must consider and weigh up two obligations: the duty to hear every case that comes before him or her and the duty to apply the law impartially, without fear, favour or prejudice.