In the instance of any hearing on a motion to recuse or disqualify a judge, the challenged judge shall neither select nor participate in the selection of the judge to hear the motion; if recused or disqualified, the recused or disqualified judge shall not select nor participate in the selection of the judge assigned to hear further proceedings in the involved action.
Rule 25.5.Selection of Judge
Rule 25. RECUSAL · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified July 17, 2026
In one sentenceRule 25.5 bars a judge who has been challenged, recused, or disqualified from selecting or taking part in selecting the replacement judge, whether that selection is for the recusal hearing itself or for handling the rest of the case afterward.
Full Text of Rule 25.5
Plain-English Summary
Rule 25.5 closes an obvious loophole in the selection process Rule 25.4 sets up: it stops a challenged judge from having any hand in choosing a replacement. A judge facing a recusal or disqualification motion cannot select, or even participate in selecting, the judge who will hear that motion.
The same bar carries forward if the challenge succeeds. Once a judge is recused or disqualified, that judge plays no role in picking who takes over the case going forward, keeping the entire substitution process free of influence from the judge being replaced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a judge facing a recusal motion pick the judge who will decide that motion?
No. The challenged judge shall neither select nor participate in the selection of the judge to hear the motion.
Once a judge is recused or disqualified, can that judge help choose their successor for the case?
No. The recused or disqualified judge shall not select nor participate in the selection of the judge assigned to hear further proceedings in the case.
Does Rule 25.5 apply only to contested recusal motions, or also to voluntary recusals?
It applies broadly to any hearing on a motion to recuse or disqualify a judge, which covers both contested motions and situations where a judge steps aside voluntarily.
Why does the rule bar the challenged judge from the selection process?
To keep the choice of a replacement judge free from any influence by the judge whose impartiality is in question.
Does this rule identify who does make the selection instead?
It does not itself name the selector — that selection procedure is set out in Rule 25.4 — it only bars the challenged judge from taking part.
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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