# 刑事訴訟法 / Code of Criminal Procedure — 第二章 (Part 1, Chapter 2)

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- Law: 刑事訴訟法 (Code of Criminal Procedure), 昭和二十三年法律第百三十一号
- English title "Code of Criminal Procedure": Ministry of Justice translation
- Kind: Act — the distinction between 法律 (Act), 政令 (Cabinet Order), 省令 (Ministerial Order) and 条例 (local ordinance) decides who may issue it and what it may say.
- Provision: 第二章 (Part 1, Chapter 2) — address `pt-1/ch-2`
- Text in force since: 2026-10-20
- URL (the page that opens at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/pt-1/ch-2
- e-Gov law ID: 323AC0000000131 — never renamed. A permanent link, `/l/{lawId}/{address}` on this site, redirects to the page.
- Every provision below carries its address and its URL on the line under it.
- Japanese text: e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁). English: as marked on each line below.

Only the Japanese as published by the government has legal effect; the text
below is a copy of it. Every English rendering below is a translation and
says which kind: the Ministry of Justice's translation, or this
site's machine translation, whose model and date the Sources list names.
They are never merged and never substituted for one another.

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## 第二章　裁判所職員の除斥及び忌避 — Chapter II Disqualification and Recusal of Court Officials
<sup>heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>pt-1/ch-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/pt-1/ch-2</sup>

### 第二十条
<sup>art-20 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-20</sup>

  **第一項**  裁判官は、次に掲げる場合には、職務の執行から除斥される。
  <sup>art-20/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-20/par-1</sup>
  A judge is disqualified from execution of its duties when:
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **一**  裁判官が被害者であるとき。
    <sup>art-20/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-20/par-1/item-1</sup>
    the judge is the victim;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **二**  裁判官が被告人又は被害者の親族であるとき、又はあつたとき。
    <sup>art-20/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-20/par-1/item-2</sup>
    the judge is or was a relative of the defendant or the victim;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation with a slip corrected by this site — not the Ministry's text; the Ministry printed: "the judge is or was a relative of the accused or the victim;" — https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb</sup>

    **三**  裁判官が被告人又は被害者の法定代理人、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。
    <sup>art-20/par-1/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-20/par-1/item-3</sup>
    the judge is a legal representative, supervisor of a guardian, curator, supervisor of a curator, assistant, or supervisor of an assistant for the defendant or the victim;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation with a slip corrected by this site — not the Ministry's text; the Ministry printed: "the judge is a legal representative, supervisor of a guardian, curator, supervisor of a curator, assistant, or supervisor of an assistant for the accused or the victim;" — https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb</sup>

    **四**  裁判官が事件について証人又は鑑定人となつたとき。
    <sup>art-20/par-1/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-20/par-1/item-4</sup>
    the judge has become a witness or an expert witness in the case;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **五**  裁判官が事件について被告人の代理人、弁護人又は補佐人となつたとき。
    <sup>art-20/par-1/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-20/par-1/item-5</sup>
    the judge has become a representative, defense counsel or assistant for the defendant in the case;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation with a slip corrected by this site — not the Ministry's text; the Ministry printed: "the judge has become a representative, defense counsel or assistant for the accused in the case;" — https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb</sup>

    **六**  裁判官が事件について検察官又は司法警察員の職務を行つたとき。
    <sup>art-20/par-1/item-6 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-20/par-1/item-6</sup>
    the judge has executed its duties of a public prosecutor or a judicial police officer in the case;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **七**  裁判官が事件について第二百六十六条第二号の決定、略式命令、前審の裁判、第三百九十八条乃至第四百条、第四百十二条若しくは第四百十三条の規定により差し戻し、若しくは移送された場合における原判決又はこれらの裁判の基礎となつた取調べに関与したとき。ただし、受託裁判官として関与した場合は、この限りでない。
    <sup>art-20/par-1/item-7 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-20/par-1/item-7</sup>
    with regard to the case, the judge has participated in a ruling prescribed in Article 266, item (ii), summary order or the decision of the lower court, or in the original judgment of a case which was sent back or transferred pursuant to the provisions of Articles 398 to 400, 412, or 413, or in the examination of evidence which formed the basis of such decisions; provided, however, that this does not apply when said judge participated as a delegated judge.
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第二十一条
<sup>art-21 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-21</sup>

  **第一項**  裁判官が職務の執行から除斥されるべきとき、又は不公平な裁判をする虞があるときは、検察官又は被告人は、これを忌避することができる。
  <sup>art-21/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-21/par-1</sup>
  When a judge is to be disqualified from the execution of its duties, or there is a concern that said judge may make a prejudicial decision, a public prosecutor or the defendant may recuse said judge.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation with a slip corrected by this site — not the Ministry's text; the Ministry printed: "When a judge is to be disqualified from the execution of its duties, or there is a concern that said judge may make a prejudicial decision, a public prosecutor or the accused may recuse said judge." — https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb</sup>

  **第二項**  弁護人は、被告人のため忌避の申立をすることができる。但し、被告人の明示した意思に反することはできない。
  <sup>art-21/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-21/par-2</sup>
  The defense counsel may recuse a judge on behalf of the defendant; provided, however, that such recusal may not be contrary to the intent expressed by the defendant.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation with a slip corrected by this site — not the Ministry's text; the Ministry printed: "The defense counsel may recuse a judge on behalf of the accused; provided, however, that such recusal is not contrary to the intent expressed by the accused." — https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb</sup>

### 第二十二条
<sup>art-22 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-22</sup>

  **第一項**  事件について請求又は陳述をした後には、不公平な裁判をする虞があることを理由として裁判官を忌避することはできない。但し、忌避の原因があることを知らなかつたとき、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。
  <sup>art-22/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-22/par-1</sup>
  Once a request or a statement has been made with regard to a case, a party cannot recuse a judge on the grounds that there is a concern that said judge may make a prejudicial decision; provided, however, that this does not apply when the party did not know of the existence of a cause for recusal or when such cause occurred later.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第二十三条
<sup>art-23 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-23</sup>

  **第一項**  合議体の構成員である裁判官が忌避されたときは、その裁判官所属の裁判所が、決定をしなければならない。この場合において、その裁判所が地方裁判所であるときは、合議体で決定をしなければならない。
  <sup>art-23/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-23/par-1</sup>
  When a judge who is a member of a panel is recused, the court to which said judge is assigned must make the ruling. In this case, when the court is a district court, the ruling must be made by a panel.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第二項**  地方裁判所の一人の裁判官又は家庭裁判所の裁判官が忌避されたときはその裁判官所属の裁判所が、簡易裁判所の裁判官が忌避されたときは管轄地方裁判所が、合議体で決定をしなければならない。ただし、忌避された裁判官が忌避の申立てを理由があるものとするときは、その決定があつたものとみなす。
  <sup>art-23/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-23/par-2</sup>
  When an individual judge who is assigned to a district court or a judge assigned to a family court is recused, a panel which is assigned to the same district or family court must make the ruling. When an individual judge who is assigned to a summary court is recused, a panel which is assigned to the district court which has jurisdiction must make the ruling; provided, however, that when the recused judge admits that the recusal has cause, such ruling will be deemed to have been made.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第三項**  忌避された裁判官は、前二項の決定に関与することができない。
  <sup>art-23/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-23/par-3</sup>
  The recused judge may not participate in the ruling prescribed in the preceding two paragraphs.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第四項**  裁判所が忌避された裁判官の退去により決定をすることができないときは、直近上級の裁判所が、決定をしなければならない。
  <sup>art-23/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-23/par-4</sup>
  When the court is unable to make a ruling because of the withdrawal of the recused judge, the ruling must be rendered by the next higher court.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第二十四条
<sup>art-24 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-24</sup>

  **第一項**  訴訟を遅延させる目的のみでされたことの明らかな忌避の申立は、決定でこれを却下しなければならない。この場合には、前条第三項の規定を適用しない。第二十二条の規定に違反し、又は裁判所の規則で定める手続に違反してされた忌避の申立を却下する場合も、同様である。
  <sup>art-24/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-24/par-1</sup>
  When it is clear that the recusal of a judge has been made merely for the purpose of delaying proceedings, such recusal must be dismissed by a ruling. Paragraph (3) of the preceding Article does not apply to such case. The same applies to a ruling of dismissal against a recusal which was made in violation of Article 22 or the procedures established by the Rules of Court.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第二項**  前項の場合には、忌避された受命裁判官、地方裁判所の一人の裁判官又は家庭裁判所若しくは簡易裁判所の裁判官は、忌避の申立てを却下する裁判をすることができる。
  <sup>art-24/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-24/par-2</sup>
  In the cases given in the preceding paragraph, a recused commissioned judge or the recused individual judge of a district court, or the recused judge of a family court or summary court, may dismiss the recusal.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第二十五条
<sup>art-25 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-25</sup>

  **第一項**  忌避の申立を却下する決定に対しては、即時抗告をすることができる。
  <sup>art-25/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-25/par-1</sup>
  An immediate appeal against a ruling of dismissal of a recusal may be filed.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第二十六条
<sup>art-26 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-26</sup>

  **第一項**  この章の規定は、第二十条第七号の規定を除いて、裁判所書記にこれを準用する。
  <sup>art-26/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-26/par-1</sup>
  The provisions of this chapter apply mutatis mutandis to court clerks except for the provisions of Article 20, item (vii).
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第二項**  決定は、裁判所書記所属の裁判所がこれをしなければならない。但し、第二十四条第一項の場合には、裁判所書記の附属する受命裁判官が、忌避の申立を却下する裁判をすることができる。
  <sup>art-26/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-26/par-2</sup>
  The court to which the court clerk is assigned must make the ruling; provided, however, that in cases prescribed in Article 24, paragraph (1), the commissioned judge to whom the court clerk is assigned may make the ruling to dismiss the recusal.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

---

## Cites
- art-20/par-1/item-7: 第二百六十六条第二号 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百六十六条第一項第二号 (Article 266, paragraph (1), item (ii)), art-266/par-1/item-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-266/par-1/item-2
- art-20/par-1/item-7: 第三百九十八条乃至第四百条 → 刑事訴訟法 第三百九十八条 (Article 398), art-398 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-398
- art-20/par-1/item-7: 第三百九十八条乃至第四百条 → 刑事訴訟法 第三百九十九条 (Article 399), art-399 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-399
- art-20/par-1/item-7: 第三百九十八条乃至第四百条 → 刑事訴訟法 第四百条 (Article 400), art-400 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-400
- art-20/par-1/item-7: 第四百十二条 → 刑事訴訟法 第四百十二条 (Article 412), art-412 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-412
- art-20/par-1/item-7: 第四百十三条 → 刑事訴訟法 第四百十三条 (Article 413), art-413 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-413
- art-23/par-3: 前二項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二十三条第一項 (Article 23, paragraph (1)), art-23/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-23/par-1
- art-23/par-3: 前二項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二十三条第二項 (Article 23, paragraph (2)), art-23/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-23/par-2
- art-24/par-1: 前条第三項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二十三条第三項 (Article 23, paragraph (3)), art-23/par-3 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-23/par-3
- art-24/par-1: 第二十二条 → 刑事訴訟法 第二十二条 (Article 22), art-22 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-22
- art-24/par-2: 前項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二十四条第一項 (Article 24, paragraph (1)), art-24/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-24/par-1
- art-26/par-1: 第二十条第七号 → 刑事訴訟法 第二十条第一項第七号 (Article 20, paragraph (1), item (vii)), art-20/par-1/item-7 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-20/par-1/item-7
- art-26/par-2: 第二十四条第一項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二十四条第一項 (Article 24, paragraph (1)), art-24/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-24/par-1

---

## Sources

- claude-opus-5-5 — Corrections to the Ministry of Justice's English of the Code of Criminal Procedure, written 2026-11-06
- e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 刑事訴訟法 — the text in force from 2026-10-20 (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000131/20261020_508AC0000000067), retrieved 2026-11-06
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Code of Criminal Procedure (刑事訴訟法), Article 20, paragraph (1), item (ii) — the Ministry of Justice's English as printed (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb), retrieved 2026-11-06
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Code of Criminal Procedure (刑事訴訟法), Article 20, paragraph (1), item (iii) — the Ministry of Justice's English as printed (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb), retrieved 2026-11-06
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Code of Criminal Procedure (刑事訴訟法), Article 20, paragraph (1), item (v) — the Ministry of Justice's English as printed (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb), retrieved 2026-11-06
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Code of Criminal Procedure (刑事訴訟法), Article 21, paragraph (1) — the Ministry of Justice's English as printed (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb), retrieved 2026-11-06
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Code of Criminal Procedure (刑事訴訟法), Article 21, paragraph (2) — the Ministry of Justice's English as printed (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb), retrieved 2026-11-06
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Code of Criminal Procedure — Ministry of Justice translation (part 1 of 2) (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb), retrieved 2026-11-06
- This site's parser, version 225 — 刑事訴訟法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-11-06