Q: My last court appearance was in front of a judge who has an inactive license. Who should I notify?
The case was switched to a new courtroom with this judge presiding the day before my court date.
A:
Judges, who are appointed to the bench, do not need an active license to practice law because when they take the bench they are not acting as a lawyer at all, but as a judge.
It is none of your business as a party before the court who or what the judge is or may be. However, every party has the right to challenge the judge to whom you are assigned, but there is a very limited time frame during which you can exercise your challenge. In California the challenge is called a CCP § 170.6 challenge, and must be exercised within 15 days of when you receive notice of the identity of the judge to whom your case is assigned. Normally, it is up to your lawyer to inform you of your right to challenge the judge. So if you don't have a lawyer, you need to get one asap.
William John Light agrees with this answer
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
