What does recused mean?
Recused is the past tense and past participle of recuse, meaning to remove a person from participation in a legal, official, or organizational proceeding because of a conflict of interest or another disqualifying circumstance. It is especially associated with judges, lawyers, prosecutors, officials, and panel members. A person who is recused steps aside or is formally excluded, helping preserve the appearance and substance of impartiality. The word can also be used more broadly when someone withdraws from a decision-making process because a personal or professional relationship creates a potential conflict. In reported legal writing, phrases such as “recused himself from the case” and “was recused from the proceedings” are common. The term is formal and carries a clear institutional sense rather than suggesting moral wrongdoing by the person involved.
verbPast tense and past participle of recuse: to remove someone from participation in a legal, official, or organizational proceeding because of a conflict of interest or other disqualifying circumstance.
- Removed from participation in a legal, official, or organizational proceeding because of a conflict of interest or other disqualifying circumstance.
"The judge recused herself from the case after learning that she had represented one of the parties."
"The panel member recused himself from reviewing the application."
"After the conflict was disclosed, the prosecutor recused her office from the investigation."
A recused judge steps aside so that impartiality can be protected, not because the judge has done anything wrong.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does recused come from?
The word comes from Latin recusare, meaning “to refuse” or “to reject,” formed from re-, meaning “back” or “against,” and causa, meaning “a cause, reason, or legal case.” English borrowed the term in the legal sense of refusing to participate in a case or proceeding. Its related noun, recusation, and the historical recusant, “one who refuses to acknowledge an authority,” continue the same Latin foundation.
Related word forms
How recused is actually used
The usual forms are recuse, recuses, recused, and recusing. In legal and institutional contexts, recusal is commonly used for a judge, lawyer, official, or panel member who withdraws or is removed because of a conflict of interest.
Easily confused with recused
A person who is excused is permitted to leave or is forgiven, whereas a person who is recused is formally removed from a proceeding because of a conflict or other disqualifying circumstance.