A judge appointed or selected to sit, usu. in a specific case, in the absence or disqualification of the regular judge or otherwise as provided by statute. [Cases: Judges 13–19, 25. C.J.S. Judges §§ 161–183, 185.]
special judge 〈美〉临时法官 当正式法官缺席、丧失行为能力或不能胜任工作时,或出现宪法、法律规定的其他情形时,临时选出的法官。有的法院还将special judge与judge pro tem作了区分,认为后者是在法院某一开庭期内临时选任的法官,在该期间,他可行使正式法官的全部职能,而前者则是为审理某一特别案件而临时选任的法官。