Questão jurídica principal
Whether the entire Justice de paix office had to be recused for appearance of bias.
Decisão extraída
Yes. The regular professional contacts with the staff member and the party could objectively create an appearance of partiality for third parties.
Fundamentação extraída
Recusal is exceptional, but required where objective circumstances may create legitimate doubt about impartiality. Here, the employee's daily professional relations with the office could give rise to an appearance of bias.