Definition

The act of withdrawing from a decision or judgment due to a conflict of interest.

Example

The judge announced his recusal from the case to avoid any appearance of bias.

Conversation

Did you hear about the judge's recusal from the case?

Yeah, I read that it was due to a conflict of interest.

It makes sense, though; it's better to avoid any bias.

Exactly! It's important to maintain fairness in the legal system.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Recusal → It is formed from "re-" (meaning again) and "causa" (meaning cause or reason). The word refers to the act of withdrawing from a case or situation due to a conflict of interest, essentially meaning to remove oneself for a reason.

Memory Tip

Think of someone stepping back 'again' ('re-') for a 'reason' ('causa') — that's why recusal means to withdraw from a situation.

Visually Confused Words