Opinion ID: 2518904
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Recusal of Judge Petre

Text: In a civil case, the trial judge's decision whether to disqualify himself or herself is discretionary and will not be reversed unless an abuse of discretion is shown. Zoline v. Telluride Lodge Ass'n, 732 P.2d 635, 639 (Colo.1987). A judge may recuse himself or herself sua sponte without written explanation or specific findings on the record. Beckord v. Dist. Ct., 698 P.2d 1323, 1328 (Colo.1985). In this case, Judge Petre recused himself presumably because he had been the water referee on the Association's water application before he was appointed to the District Court bench. Consistent with Beckord, Judge Petre was not required to provide a reason for his recusal on the record. In addition, even though under the Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct, a judge  may, instead of withdrawing from the proceeding, disclose on the record the basis of the judge's disqualification, there is no requirement that he or she make such a disclosure and seek remittal of the disqualification. C.J.C. 3(D) (2006) (emphasis added). Finally, we find no abuse of discretion in Judge Petre's decision to recuse himself under Zoline. 732 P.2d at 639.