A. A Trial Judge or any Justice of the Supreme Court shall recuse himself or herself from any case in which he or she may have a conflict of interest by reason of kinship, personal relationships, prior business dealings, financial interest, prior knowledge of the facts which would make it difficult or impossible for the Judge or Justice to render a fair and impartial decision, or for any other appropriate and compelling reason. If the Chief Trial Judge or an Associate Trial Judge recuses himself or herself, that Judge shall transfer the case to another Trial Judge, or if there is no other Trial Judge, then the Chief Trial Judge shall appoint a Special Judge admitted to practice law to hear the case.

B. A party to a civil or criminal case may move the Court to ask a Judge or Justice to recuse himself or herself.

C. A Judge or Justice shall at all times prohibit inappropriate ex parte communications regarding any matter before the Court or likely to come before the Court. Ex parte communications are defined as communications to the Court when all parties to the action or their representatives are not present, which are inappropriate and which are, or may appear to be, intended to influence the Court in making any decision. The Judge or Justice shall immediately make a written report of any such attempt or communication, furnish all parties to the litigation with a copy of the report, and file the original copy of the report in the Court file for such a case. He shall, in addition, impose appropriate sanctions or disciplinary action in the nature of contempt of court proceedings upon any person or Osage Nation official committing such an action or making an attempt to commit such an action. The definition of “person” for this purpose shall include officials of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In such instances they will be deemed not to be acting within the scope of their official duties. ONCA 11-41, eff. Apr. 12, 2011.