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Recusal
(ri-kyoo-zəl)

C.  The removal of oneself as judge or policy maker in a particular matter because of a conflict of interest.

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Legal Definitions - 

Recusal - n. 
Removal of oneself as judge or policy maker in a particular matter because of a conflict of interest.
Black's Law Dictionary® Eighth Edition © 2004

Recuse - vb.
1.  To remove (oneself) as a judge in a particular case because of prejudice or conflict of interest <the judge recused himself from the trial>.  2.  To challenge or object to (a judge) as being disqualified from hearing a case because of prejudice or a conflict of interest <the defendant filed a motion to recuse the trial judge>.
Black's Law Dictionary® Eighth Edition © 2004

Recent Usage - 

"A federal judge has rejected a request that she recuse herself from a high-profile litigation involving the music industry on the ground that her attorney husband and his firm have represented some of the defendants in other matters. Lead attorneys for plaintiffs in the case expressed concern that because Southern District of New York Judge Loretta A. Preska's husband, Thomas J. Kavaler, and his firm, Cahill Gordon & Reindel, represented several of the music company defendants in other litigation, she might be inclined to tilt toward the defendants. But Preska rejected the argument in In re Digital Music Antitrust Litigation, 06 MDL 1780, finding that the plaintiffs' motion for recusal was not only time-barred, but was wrong on its merits." 
by Beth Bar, New York Law Journal March 5, 2007

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