Turkish Law in EnglishTÜRKİYE
Code of Civil Procedure

Article 36: Grounds for challenge

Chapter Three: Disqualification, Challenge and Civil Liability of Judges › Division One: Disqualification of the Judge from Hearing the Action and Challenge of the Judge

(1) Where there is a serious reason giving rise to doubt as to the impartiality of the judge, one of the parties may challenge the judge, and the judge may also withdraw on his or her own initiative. In particular, the existence of a ground for challenging the judge shall be accepted in the following cases:

a) If he or she has advised or guided one of the two parties in the action.

b) If he or she has disclosed his or her opinion on the action to one of the two parties or to a third person although not required by law.

c) If he or she has been heard as a witness or expert in the action, or has acted in the capacity of judge or arbitrator; or has acted as mediator or conciliator in the dispute.

ç) If the action belongs to his or her collateral relatives up to and including the fourth degree.

d) If, during the action, he or she has an action with, or there is enmity between him or her and, one of the two parties.

Original Turkish text

MADDE 36 · Ret sebepleri

(1) Hâkimin tarafsızlığından şüpheyi gerektiren önemli bir sebebin bulunması hâlinde, taraflardan biri hâkimi reddedebileceği gibi hâkim de bizzat çekilebilir. Özellikle aşağıdaki hâllerde, hâkimin reddi sebebinin varlığı kabul edilir:

a) Davada, iki taraftan birine öğüt vermiş ya da yol göstermiş olması.

b) Davada, iki taraftan birine veya üçüncü kişiye kanunen gerekmediği hâlde görüşünü açıklamış olması.

c) Davada, tanık veya bilirkişi olarak dinlenmiş veya hâkim ya da hakem sıfatıyla hareket etmiş olması; uyuşmazlıkta arabuluculuk veya uzlaştırmacılık yapmış bulunması.

ç) Davanın, dördüncü derece de dâhil yansoy hısımlarına ait olması.

d) Dava esnasında, iki taraftan birisi ile davası veya aralarında bir düşmanlık bulunması.

Text as of 1 October 2026 · Official source (Turkish): mevzuat.gov.tr ↗

Unofficial translation for information only. The Turkish text published in the Official Gazette is the only authoritative version. This page is not legal advice.