Judge’s Inability to Proceed

If a judge conducting a hearing or trial is unable to proceed, any other judge may proceed upon certifying familiarity with the record and determining that the case may be completed without prejudice to the parties. In a hearing or a nonjury trial, the successor judge must, at a party’s request, recall any witness whose testimony is material and disputed and who is available to testify again without undue burden. The successor judge may also recall any other witness. But if such successor judge cannot perform those duties because the successor judge did not preside at the trial or for any other reason, the successor judge may, in that judge’s discretion, grant a new trial. [Amended; effective March 1, 2019.]