Daitchman v. Daitchman

(Ret.), Specially Assigned. When the plaintiff was a college student she met and married the defendant, then pursuing rabbinical studies. Some twenty-nine years later, children grown, the parties’ divorce case was heard and went to final judgment. An earlier hearing had been carried through almost to final entry, but was aborted when the presiding judge recused himself. On that account the litigation has therefore already consumed more than five years.

Two questions are raised on appeal. One relates to a decision by one of the assistant judges not to disqualify herself, and the second deals…