Rule 25.4.Procedure Upon a Motion for Disqualification
Rule 25. RECUSAL · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceRule 25.4 lays out who selects the replacement judge to hear a recusal motion, ranging from the district administrative judge in a single-judge circuit to random assignment or a senior-judge fallback in larger circuits, and provides an escape valve to an adjacent district if every judge in a circuit is disqualified.
The motion shall be assigned for hearing to another judge, who shall be selected in the following manner:
(A) If within a single-judge circuit, the district administrative judge shall select the judge;
(B) If within a two-judge circuit, the other judge, unless disqualified, shall hear the motion;
(C) If within a multi-judge circuit, composed of three (3) or more judges, selection shall be made by use of the circuit’s existing random, impartial case assignment method. If the circuit does not have random, impartial case assignment rules, then assignment shall be made as follows:
(1)The chief judge of the circuit shall select a judge within the circuit to hear the motion, unless the chief judge is the one against whom the motion is filed; or
(2)In the event the chief judge is the one against whom the motion is filed, the assignment shall be made by the judge of the circuit who is most senior in terms of service other than the chief judge and who is not also a judge against whom the motion is filed; or
(3)When the motion pertains to all active judges in the circuit, the district administrative judge shall select a judge outside the circuit to hear the motion.
(D) If the district administrative judge is the one against whom the motion is filed, the judge within the district senior in time of service (or next senior in time of service, if the administrative judge is the one senior in the time of service) shall serve in this selection process instead of the district administrative judge.
(E) If all judges within a judicial administrative district are disqualified, including the administrative judge, the matter shall be referred by the disqualified administrative judge to the administrative judge of an adjacent district for the appointment of a judge who is not a member of the district to preside over the motion or case.
If the motion is sustained, the selection of another judge to hear the case shall follow the same procedure as outlined above.
Former Rule 25.4 deleted effective January 31, 1991. Former Rule 25.3 renumbered as Rule 25.4 effective January 31, 1991; amended effective May 19, 2005.
Plain-English Summary
Once a recusal motion clears the screening step in Rule 25.3, someone has to pick the judge who will decide it, and Rule 25.4 answers that with a chain of rules keyed to circuit size. In a single-judge circuit, the district administrative judge makes the selection. In a two-judge circuit, the other judge hears the motion unless that judge is also disqualified. In a circuit with three or more judges, the circuit’s existing random, impartial case-assignment system handles it; if the circuit has no such system, the chief judge picks a replacement unless the chief judge is the one being challenged, in which case the most senior judge who is not also a target of the motion makes the call.
The rule keeps building fallback layers for harder cases. If the motion targets every active judge in the circuit, the district administrative judge reaches outside the circuit to find a judge. If the district administrative judge is the one challenged, the judge in the district who is senior in time of service steps in to run the selection instead — unless that senior judge is the administrative judge being challenged, in which case the next most senior judge in time of service takes over. And if an entire judicial administrative district — including its administrative judge — is disqualified, the matter goes to the administrative judge of an adjacent district, who appoints an outside judge to take over. If the recusal motion succeeds, this same selection chain picks the judge who will handle the rest of the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who selects the replacement judge in a single-judge circuit?
The district administrative judge.
What happens in a two-judge circuit when one judge is challenged?
The other judge in the circuit hears the motion, unless that judge is also disqualified.
How is the replacement judge chosen in a circuit with three or more judges?
By the circuit’s existing random, impartial case-assignment method, or, if none exists, by the chief judge unless the chief judge is the one challenged.
What happens if the recusal motion challenges every active judge in the circuit?
The district administrative judge selects a judge from outside the circuit to hear the motion.
What if an entire judicial administrative district, including its administrative judge, is disqualified?
The matter is referred to the administrative judge of an adjacent district, who appoints a judge from outside the district to preside.
Source & verification. Rule text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Uniform Superior Court Rules, published by the
Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia. Last verified July 17, 2026.
· Official source
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