Why might a judge be temporarily transferred to another court?

In the common-law tradition, judges are generally not subject to arbitrary reassignment by external authorities, which helps protect their judicial independence.

However, a judge may be temporarily transferred between courts under specific administrative circumstances. These transfers are typically consensual and are arranged by judicial colleagues to address practical management needs, such as:

• Illness: When a judge is unable to perform their duties, a colleague may be transferred to cover the caseload.
• Congested Calendars: When a specific court faces a backlog of cases, a judge may be moved temporarily to help manage the workload and ensure the efficient judicial administration of the court system.1