In all cases in equity, if the judge is a party, is directly interested in the suit, is connected by blood or affinity within the prohibited degrees with any person so interested or is incompetent as having been of counsel, the venue may be changed to the nearest chancery court, as the case may be, not liable to the like exception, as of course, at the instance of either party, without costs, unless the term at which the application is made, being a trial term, the cause shall be heard and disposed of by a judge not liable to the like exception, sitting specially or by interchange.