Abstain versus recuse: what's the difference?

In some cases, a judge may need to be excused from evaluating an entry — for example, due to a conflict of interest, an existing relationship with the entrant, or because they are also an entrant and should not judge their own work.

There are two ways to prevent a judge from scoring an entry:

• Abstain: initiated by the judge
• Recuse: initiated by the program manager

Abstain

When a VIP judging score set is in use, judges can choose to abstain from scoring a particular entry if the option is enabled in the score set.

1. In the Manage workspace, go to Judging > Settings > Score sets
2. Open the 'Display' tab
3. Select the Judges may abstain checkbox
4. Click Save at the bottom of the page

When this is enabled, judges will see an option to Abstain from judging with each entry.

Ticking this box removes the ability to enter scores for that entry. Abstaining judges are excluded from average score calculations since they did not submit a score.

Recuse

A program manager can remove a judge from one or more entries using recusal. Judges are not notified when they are recused, and recused entries do not appear in their judging list.

Recusing a judge does not prevent manual or random assignments from being created. If a recused entry is reassigned, it will still appear as Recused in Judging > Settings > Assignments and will remain hidden from the judge.

Recusal via an entry:

This method only recuses the judge in the selected score set. 

1. In the Manage workspace, go to Entries 
2. Click on the entry name and open the 'Judging' tab
3. In the score set matrix, click on the overflow menu beside the judge's name
4. Click Recuse 

Recusal via assignments:

1. In the Manage workspace, go to Judging > Settings > Assignments
2. Search for the judge you wish to recuse
3. Select the checkboxes for the relevant entries
4. Open the Action drop-down and select Recuse

Global recusal

1. In the Manage workspace, go to Entries
2. Click the entry name
3. Open the 'Judging' tab
4. Under 'Recusals', click Recuse a judge
5. Enter the judge's name and click Recuse

The judge will remain active for all other assigned entries.

If a judge is recused after scoring, their score becomes a stray score and is excluded from average calculations.

Good to know

• Abstain is controlled by judges; Recuse is controlled by program managers.
• Recused judges are not notified and cannot see affected entries.
• Recusal only impacts the selected entries or score sets.
• Stray scores from recused judges are ignored in averages.
• Use the advanced search filter to quickly manage multiple recusals at once.