AB 685

Current law requires a supreme court justice and a judge in the court of appeals,

in circuit court, and in municipal court (judge) to disqualify himself or herself from

a civil or criminal action or proceeding (action) under certain circumstances,

including when a judge is related to any party or counsel to the action, when a judge

is a party or a material witness in the action, when a judge has a significant financial

or personal interest in the outcome of the action, and when a judge determines that

he or she cannot, or it appears he or she cannot, act in an impartial manner.

This bill requires a judge to disqualify himself or herself from an action if, as

a candidate for judicial office and within the past four years, the judge received

campaign financial support of $1,000 or more from a party to the action. The bill

specifies that financial support includes campaign contributions, independent

contributions made on behalf of the judge, and independent contributions made

against the judge's opponent. In the event that a judge must disqualify himself or

herself under the condition established in the bill, the judge may disclose the reason

for disqualification and ask the parties and the lawyers of the parties to consider

whether to waive disqualification. If the party who is opposed to the party who

provided campaign financial support to the judge waives disqualification, the judge

may participate in the action.