Is federal judicial refusal or not always and only up to the individual judge to recise themselves or not, on an honor system, subject only to removal from bench by congressional impeachment?
A judge must recuse themselves from a case if there is a conflict of interest, which includes any situation where their impartiality could reasonably be questioned, even if it’s just an appearance of bias rather than actual bias. The legal standard focuses on whether a reasonable person might doubt the judge’s ability to be fair. This process ensures fairness, maintains public confidence, and upholds the integrity of the judiciary, with federal and state laws often outlining specific grounds for disqualification