Rule 3.6 Responsibility to Decide

Judges have a duty to actually handle the cases they're given. They can't just avoid or skip a case because it's hard, controversial, or uncomfortable.

There are only a few valid reasons a judge can step aside from a case. One is if the judge chooses to remove themselves for a proper reason, like a conflict of interest. The other is if a specific law or Rule 3.10 requires them to step down. Outside of these situations, the judge must hear the case and make a ruling.

This rule matters to you because it means your case will get decided. A judge cannot ignore your case, delay it forever without cause, or pass it off to avoid making a tough call. If a judge does step aside, there needs to be a real legal reason behind it, not just personal preference.