5.050 Disqualification

If a trial commissioner has a personal stake in a case, a close relationship with someone involved, or any kind of bias, they can't handle that case. They have to step aside, just like a regular judge would in the same situation.

The idea behind this rule is simple: the person deciding a case needs to be neutral. If a trial commissioner has a reason to favor one side, whether that's money, family ties, friendship, or some other conflict of interest, they're required to remove themselves from the matter. This keeps the process fair for everyone involved.

This rule uses the same standard that applies to judges. So if you're wondering whether a trial commissioner should be disqualified, you can look at the same rules that would apply if a judge were in that position. The goal is to make sure the person making decisions in your case doesn't have a reason to be unfair.