(Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department's blockbuster case accusing Apple of unlawfully monopolizing the smartphone market was reassigned to U.S. District Judge Julien Neals in New Jersey on Wednesday after another judge said he could not hear it due to a potential conflict of interest.

U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz, who had been assigned to handle it, in a brief order said he was required to recuse from the case based on a judicial ethics rule that can restrict judges from hearing disputes in which they or a family member have some close connection or financial tie.