TITLE XXII
RECUSAL OF JUDGES AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
CHAPTER 1. RECUSAL OF JUDGES
Art. 671. Grounds for recusal of judge
A. In a criminal cause, a judge of any trial or appellate court shall be recused upon
any of the following grounds:
(1) The judge is biased, prejudiced, or personally interested in the cause to such an
extent that the judge would be unable to conduct a fair and impartial trial.
(2) The judge is the spouse of the accused, of the party injured, of an attorney
employed in the cause, or of the district attorney; or is related to the accused or the party
injured, or to the spouse of the accused or party injured, within the fourth degree; or is related
to an attorney employed in the cause or to the district attorney, or to the spouse of either,
within the second degree.
(3) The judge has been employed or consulted as an attorney in the cause, or has
been associated with an attorney during the latter's employment in the cause.
(4) The judge is a witness in the cause.
(5) The judge performed a judicial act in the cause in another court.
(6) The judge would be unable, for any other reason, to conduct a fair and impartial
trial.
B. In a criminal cause, a judge of any trial or appellate court shall also be recused
when there exists a substantial and objective basis that would reasonably be expected to
prevent the judge from conducting any aspect of the cause in a fair and impartial manner.
C. In any cause in which the state or a political subdivision thereof is interested, the
fact that the judge is a citizen of the state or a resident of the political subdivision, or pays
taxes thereto, is not a ground for recusal. In any cause in which a religious body or religious
corporation is interested, the fact that a judge is a member of the religious body or religious
corporation is not alone a ground for recusal.
Acts 1988, No. 515, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1989; Acts 2022, No. 42, §1.
{{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1988, NO. 515, §12.}}