Which circumstance initiates the change of judge process after assignment?

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Multiple Choice

Which circumstance initiates the change of judge process after assignment?

When the judge assigned to a case can no longer preside, substitution of judges is triggered. If that happens after assignment and the parties agree to proceed with a different judge, the court initiates the change of judge process to reassign the case. This ensures the case continues with an available, impartial judge and avoids unnecessary delays. A motion for continuance, by contrast, delays proceedings but keeps the same judge. Going to trial with the same judge avoids substitution entirely, and having an appellate court direct substitution is a remedy that occurs on appeal, not a routine post-assignment trigger. So the situation where the assigned judge becomes unavailable after assignment by agreement is the circumstance that starts the change of judge process.

When the judge assigned to a case can no longer preside, substitution of judges is triggered. If that happens after assignment and the parties agree to proceed with a different judge, the court initiates the change of judge process to reassign the case. This ensures the case continues with an available, impartial judge and avoids unnecessary delays. A motion for continuance, by contrast, delays proceedings but keeps the same judge. Going to trial with the same judge avoids substitution entirely, and having an appellate court direct substitution is a remedy that occurs on appeal, not a routine post-assignment trigger. So the situation where the assigned judge becomes unavailable after assignment by agreement is the circumstance that starts the change of judge process.

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