Rule 63. Unavailability of a Judge; Receipt of Verdict

(a) Unavailability. If by reason of death, sickness, resignation, removal, recusal, or other unavailability, a judge before whom a trial has commenced is unable to perform the duties to be performed by the court, then any other judge regularly sitting in or assigned to the court in which the trial was commenced may complete the trial, on assignment by the Chief Justice of such court or the Chief Justice's designee; but the replacement judge has discretion to grant a new trial if the judge determines that he or she is unable to perform the required duties.

(b) Receipt of Verdict. Any judge properly sitting in, appointed to, or assigned to that court may receive a verdict of the jury. Rule History Adopted July 13, 1973, effective July 1, 1974; amended February 29, 2024, effective April 1, 2024.