Chapter III Disqualification and Challenge to Court Officials
第三章 裁判所職員の除斥及び忌避
Article 10Disqualification of Judges
第十条（裁判官の除斥）
In the following cases, a judge is disqualified from fulfilling the judge's duties; provided, however, that in the case set forth in item (vi), this does not preclude a judge from fulfilling the judge's duties as a commissioned judge based on a commission from another court:
裁判官は、次に掲げる場合には、その職務の執行から除斥される。ただし、第六号に掲げる場合にあっては、他の裁判所の嘱託により受託裁判官としてその職務を行うことを妨げない。
where a judge or the judge's spouse or a person who was the judge's spouse is a party to the case or any other person who is to be subject to adjudication (meaning a person who is to be subject to adjudication when a ruling is made (excluding a ruling to dismiss a petition); the same applies hereinafter), or is related to such party or person in relation to the case as a joint obligee, joint obligor, or obligor for redemption;
裁判官又はその配偶者若しくは配偶者であった者が、事件の当事者若しくはその他の審判を受ける者となるべき者（審判（申立てを却下する審判を除く。）がされた場合において、その審判を受ける者となる者をいう。以下同じ。）であるとき、又は事件についてこれらの者と共同権利者、共同義務者若しくは償還義務者の関係にあるとき。
when a judge is or was a blood relative within the fourth degree or relative by marriage within the third degree of, or relative living together with, a party to the case or any other person who is to be subject to adjudication;
裁判官が当事者又はその他の審判を受ける者となるべき者の四親等内の血族、三親等内の姻族若しくは同居の親族であるとき、又はあったとき。
Changes by (Act No. 45 of 2026)
when a judge is a guardian, supervisor of a guardian, curator, supervisor of a curator, assistant, or supervisor of an assistant for a party to the case or any other person who is to be subject to adjudication;
裁判官が当事者又はその他の審判を受ける者となるべき者の後見人、後見監督人、保佐人、保佐監督人、補助人又は補助監督人であるとき。
when a judge has served as a witness or appraiser or is to be heard in relation to the case;
裁判官が事件について証人若しくは鑑定人となったとき、又は審問を受けることとなったとき。
when a judge is or has been a representative or assistant in court of a party to the case or any other person who is to be subject to adjudication; and
裁判官が事件について当事者若しくはその他の審判を受ける者となるべき者の代理人若しくは補佐人であるとき、又はあったとき。
when a judge has participated in making an arbitral award in relation to the case or participated in making a judicial decision in the prior instance against which an appeal has been entered.
裁判官が事件について仲裁判断に関与し、又は不服を申し立てられた前審の裁判に関与したとき。
If any of the grounds for disqualification prescribed in the preceding paragraph exist, the court makes a judicial decision of disqualification upon petition or by its own authority.
前項に規定する除斥の原因があるときは、裁判所は、申立てにより又は職権で、除斥の裁判をする。
第十一条（裁判官の忌避）
If there are circumstances with regard to a judge that would prejudice the impartiality of a judicial decision or mediation, a party may challenge the judge.
裁判官について裁判又は調停の公正を妨げる事情があるときは、当事者は、その裁判官を忌避することができる。
If a party has argued a case before a judge, the party may not challenge that judge; provided, however, that this is not the case if the party did not know the grounds for a challenge had already existed or they came about afterwards.
当事者は、裁判官の面前において事件について陳述をしたときは、その裁判官を忌避することができない。ただし、忌避の原因があることを知らなかったとき、又は忌避の原因がその後に生じたときは、この限りでない。
Article 12Judicial Decision of Disqualification or Challenge, and Stay of Proceedings
第十二条（除斥又は忌避の裁判及び手続の停止）
A judicial decision of disqualification or a challenge to a judge who is a member of a panel or a single judge of a family court is to be made by the court to which the judge belongs, and a judicial decision on the disqualification or a challenge to a judge of a summary court who is to serve as a commissioned judge are to be made by the district court which has jurisdiction over the venue of that summary court.
合議体の構成員である裁判官及び家庭裁判所の一人の裁判官の除斥又は忌避についてはその裁判官の所属する裁判所が、受託裁判官として職務を行う簡易裁判所の裁判官の除斥又は忌避についてはその裁判所の所在地を管轄する地方裁判所が、裁判をする。
The judicial decision in a family court and a district court as set forth in the preceding paragraph is to be made by a panel.
家庭裁判所及び地方裁判所における前項の裁判は、合議体でする。
A judge may not participate in the judicial proceeding on the disqualification or a challenge to themselves.
裁判官は、その除斥又は忌避についての裁判に関与することができない。
When a motion for disqualification or challenge is filed, the proceedings of the domestic relations case must be stayed until the judicial decision on the motion becomes final and binding; provided, however, that this does not apply to any urgent action.
除斥又は忌避の申立てがあったときは、その申立てについての裁判が確定するまで家事事件の手続を停止しなければならない。ただし、急速を要する行為については、この限りでない。
The provisions of paragraph (3) do not apply when dismissing a motion for a challenge on any of the following grounds:
次に掲げる事由があるとして忌避の申立てを却下する裁判をするときは、第三項の規定は、適用しない。
when it is clear that the motion for recusal is filed merely for the purpose of delaying the proceedings of the domestic relations case;
家事事件の手続を遅滞させる目的のみでされたことが明らかなとき。
when the motion is in violation of the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article; or
前条第二項の規定に違反するとき。
when the motion is in violation of a procedure specified by the Rules of the Supreme Court.
最高裁判所規則で定める手続に違反するとき。
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2), the judicial decision set forth in the preceding paragraph may be made by an authorized judge, etc. (meaning an authorized judge, a commissioned judge, a judge who composes a mediation committee, or a judge of a family court handling a domestic relations case; the same applies in the proviso to paragraph (3) of the following Article) who has been challenged.
When the judicial decision set forth in paragraph (5) is made, the proceedings of the domestic relations case will not be stayed, notwithstanding the provisions of main clause of paragraph (4).
No appeal may be entered against a judicial decision which finds that the disqualification or challenge is well-grounded.
除斥又は忌避を理由があるとする裁判に対しては、不服を申し立てることができない。
An immediate appeal may be filed against a judicial decision to dismiss a motion for a disqualification or challenge.
除斥又は忌避の申立てを却下する裁判に対しては、即時抗告をすることができる。
Article 13Disqualification and Challenge to Court Clerk
第十三条（裁判所書記官の除斥及び忌避）
With regard to disqualification and a challenge to a court clerk, the provisions of Article 10, Article 11, and paragraphs (3), (5), (8), and (9) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis.
When a motion for disqualification or a challenge to a court clerk is filed, the court clerk may not participate in the domestic relations case in which the motion is filed until a judicial decision on the motion becomes final and binding; provided, however, that this does not apply if the motion for a challenge is denied on any of the grounds set forth in the items of paragraph (5) of the preceding Article as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the preceding paragraph.
A judicial decision of the disqualification or a challenge to a court clerk is to be made by the court to which the court clerk belongs; provided, however, that the judicial decision set forth in the proviso to the preceding paragraph may be made by an authorized judge, etc. (an authorized judge or commissioned judge may make such a decision only when a motion for a challenge is filed with regard to a court clerk who is to attend the proceedings handled by the judge).
Article 14Disqualification of and Challenge to Counselor
第十四条（参与員の除斥及び忌避）
With regard to disqualification and a challenge to a counselor, the provisions of Article 10, Article 11, and Article 12, paragraphs (2), (8), and (9) apply mutatis mutandis.
When a motion for disqualification or challenge to a counselor is filed, the counselor may not participate in the domestic relations case in which the motion is filed until a judicial decision on the motion becomes final and binding; provided, however, that this does not apply if the motion for a challenge is denied on any of the grounds set forth in the items of Article 12, paragraph (5).
A judicial decision of disqualification or a challenge to a counselor is to be made by the family court to which the counselor belongs:provided, however, that the judicial decision set forth in the proviso to the preceding paragraph may be made by an authorized judge (an authorized judge may make such a decision only when a motion for recusal is filed with regard to a counselor who is to attend the proceedings handled by the judge) or by a judge of a family court handling a domestic relations case.
With regard to disqualification of and a challenge to a domestic relations mediator, the provisions of Article 10, Article 11, and Article 12, paragraphs (2) through (4), (8) and (9) apply mutatis mutandis.
家事調停官の除斥及び忌避については、第十条、第十一条並びに第十二条第二項から第四項まで、第八項及び第九項の規定を準用する。
When a motion for a challenge is denied on any of the grounds set forth in the items of Article 12, paragraph (5), the proceedings of the domestic relations case will not be stayed, notwithstanding the provisions of the main clause of paragraph (4) of the Article as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the preceding paragraph.
A judicial decision on the disqualification of or a challenge to a domestic relations mediator is to be made by the family court to which the domestic relations mediator belongs; provided, however, that the judicial decision set forth in the preceding paragraph may be made by a domestic relations mediator who has been challenged.
家事調停官の除斥又は忌避についての裁判は、家事調停官の所属する家庭裁判所がする。ただし、前項の裁判は、忌避された家事調停官がすることができる。
第十六条（家庭裁判所調査官及び家事調停委員の除斥）
With regard to the disqualification of a family court investigating officer and a domestic relations mediation commissioner, the provisions of Article 10, and Article 12, paragraphs (2), (8), and (9) (excluding the parts concerning a challenge) apply mutatis mutandis.
When a motion for disqualification of a family court investigating officer or domestic relations mediation commissioner is filed, the family court investigating officer or domestic relations mediation commissioner may not participate in the domestic relations case pertaining to the motion until a judicial decision on the motion becomes final and binding.
家庭裁判所調査官又は家事調停委員について除斥の申立てがあったときは、その家庭裁判所調査官又は家事調停委員は、その申立てについての裁判が確定するまでその申立てがあった家事事件に関与することができない。
A judicial decision on the disqualification of a family court investigating officer or domestic relations mediation commissioner is to be made by the court to which the family court investigating officer or domestic relations mediation commissioner belongs.
家庭裁判所調査官又は家事調停委員の除斥についての裁判は、家庭裁判所調査官又は家事調停委員の所属する裁判所がする。
domestic relations cases
「家事事件」
A case of adjudication of domestic relations (家事審判) or of mediation of domestic relations (家事調停): the family matters whose procedure this Act governs.
Short name set inArticle 1, paragraph (1)
authorized judge, etc.machine translation
「受命裁判官等」
In Article 12, paragraph (6) and the proviso to Article 13, paragraph (3), an authorized judge (受命裁判官, a member of the court's panel given a task), a commissioned judge (受託裁判官, a judge of another court asked to do it), a judge on a mediation committee (調停委員会), or the single judge of a family court handling a domestic relations case (家事事件).
Defined inArticle 12, paragraph (6)· applies only in this provision and in Article 13, paragraph (3)
summary court
簡易裁判所
One of the four kinds of lower court (下級裁判所) beneath the Supreme Court, with the high courts (高等裁判所), the district courts (地方裁判所) and the family courts (家庭裁判所) (Courts Act, Article 1, and Article 2, paragraph (1)). A summary court has jurisdiction at first instance over civil claims whose value does not exceed 1.4 million yen, other than claims in administrative cases, and over criminal cases for offences punishable by no more than a fine or for which a fine is one of the penalties the law allows, among others (Article 33, paragraph (1)). A petition for court mediation goes, unless a special rule says otherwise, to the summary court for the place where the other party lives or has its business office or other office, or to a district court or summary court the parties agree on (Civil Mediation Act, Article 3, paragraph (1)).
Written by AI using Courts Act, Arts. 1, 2, 33 and Civil Mediation Act, Art. 3 as a reference.