Section 1 - Motion Seeking Disqualification or Recusal of Trial Judge of Court of Record1.01. Any party seeking disqualification, recusal, or a determination of constitutional or statutory incompetence of a judge of a court of record, or a judge acting as a court of record, shall do so by a written motion filed promptly after a party learns or reasonably should have learned of the facts establishing the basis for recusal. The motion shall be filed no later than ten days before trial, absent a showing of good cause which must be supported by an affidavit. The motion shall be supported by an affidavit under oath or a declaration under penalty of perjury on personal knowledge and by other appropriate materials. The motion shall state, with specificity, all factual and legal grounds supporting disqualification of the judge and shall affirmatively state that it is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation. A party who is represented by counsel is not permitted to file a pro se motion under this rule. Any subsequent motion under this section filed in the same case must state, with specificity, substantially different factual and legal grounds than those relied upon in support of a prior motion filed under this section. If a party fails to satisfy this requirement, the subsequent motion may be deemed repetitive and summarily denied as provided in section 1.03.1.02. While the motion is pending, the judge whose disqualification is sought shall make no further orders and take no further action on the case, except for good cause stated in the order in which such action is taken.1.03. Upon the filing of a motion pursuant to section 1.01, the judge shall act promptly by written order and either grant or deny the motion. If the motion is denied, the judge shall state in writing the grounds upon which he or she denies the motion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a subsequent section 1.01 motion is filed in the same case but fails to state, with specificity, substantially different factual and legal grounds than those relied upon in support of a previous section 1.01 motion, the judge may act summarily by filing a written order denying the motion as repetitive. The judge need not require a response to the motion, conduct a hearing on it, or provide any other written explanation for denying the motion.1.04. Designation Procedure. A judge who recuses himself or herself, whether on the judge's own initiative or on motion of a party, shall not participate in selecting his or her successor, absent the agreement of all parties. With the agreement of all parties to the case, the judge may seek an interchange in accordance with Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 11, § VII(c)(1). Otherwise, the presiding judge of the court shall effect an interchange in accordance with Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 11, § VII(c)(2) and/or (3) in sequential order. If the presiding judge is the recused judge, the presiding judge shall take no action in selecting a successor. In such cases, the presiding judge pro tempore of the court shall effect an interchange in accordance with Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 11, § VII(c)(2) or (3). If an interchange cannot be effected, by following the above procedure in sequential order, the presiding judge or the presiding judge pro tempore shall request by using the designation request form appended to this rule the designation of a judge by the Chief Justice, pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 11, § VII(c)(4). In a judicial district where the presiding judge is the only judge and he or she recuses himself or herself, the judge shall skip the sequential steps set forth in Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 11, § VII(c)(2) and (3) and instead request the designation of a judge by the Chief Justice, pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 11, § VII(c)(4), using the designation request form. Similarly, if the recusing judge is a general sessions judge or juvenile court judge, and he or she is the only general sessions or juvenile court judge in that county, the judge shall skip the sequential steps set forth in Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 11, § VII(c)(2) and (3) and instead request the designation of a judge by the Chief Justice, pursuant to Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 11, § VII(c)(4), using the designation request form. Special permission to skip the sequential steps may be granted by the Chief Justice for good cause shown. Amended by order filed March 30, 2020, effective 3/30/2020; amended by order filed May 4, 2020, effective 5/4/2020; amended by order filed March 24, 2022, effective 3/24/2022; amended by order filed August 31, 2022, effective 8/31/2022.