united-states judge misconduct
Can a judge be removed from a trial for bias?
<p>Judges and juries are supposed to be impartial. Jurors are removed all the time for being potentially biased towards one side in a case.</p>
<p>A judge in a case that is a current event as of writing , has been accused by much of the media and other observers as being biased, in this case towards the defendant.</p>
<p><em>Can a judge be forced to recuse themself from a trial for credible accusations of bias? If so, what are the processes the defense or prosecution can take to do so?</em></p>

<p>A party can ask a judge to recuse at the outset of a case for bias or other reasons (e.g. a family connection to a party). Generally, a judge rules on that motion personally and it is an interlocutory motion not subject to appeal except by extraordinary writ (or the equivalent) to the state supreme court.</p>
<p>It is not generally proper to do so during a trial.</p>
<p>Moreover, one jeopardy has attached in a criminal trial (which happens when the jury is sworn) if the trial ends prior to a jury verdict for reasons other than those attributable to the defendant, the defendant cannot be tried again on those charges and is functionally acquitted.</p>
<p>There are probably some arguable exceptions to this rule in extraordinary circumstances that are not the fault of either party (e.g. if a meteor hits courthouse and kills the judge and some jurors mid-trial, or if it is revealed that the judge committed the crime for which the defendant is being tried). But the threshold for exceptions to the general rule is very high.</p>
