diff --git a/dreadnode/scorers/judge.py b/dreadnode/scorers/judge.py
index a323752f..e5824c16 100644
--- a/dreadnode/scorers/judge.py
+++ b/dreadnode/scorers/judge.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import typing as t
 
 import rigging as rg
+from loguru import logger
 
 from dreadnode.common_types import AnyDict
 from dreadnode.meta import Config
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@ def llm_judge(
     input: t.Any | None = None,
     expected_output: t.Any | None = None,
     model_params: rg.GenerateParams | AnyDict | None = None,
+    fallback_model: str | rg.Generator | None = None,
     passing: t.Callable[[float], bool] | None = None,
     min_score: float | None = None,
     max_score: float | None = None,
@@ -57,6 +59,7 @@ def llm_judge(
         input: The input which produced the output for context, if applicable.
         expected_output: The expected output to compare against, if applicable.
         model_params: Optional parameters for the model.
+        fallback_model: Optional fallback model to use if the primary model fails.
         passing: Optional callback to determine if the score is passing based on the score value - overrides any model-specified value.
         min_score: Optional minimum score for the judgement - if provided, the score will be clamped to this value.
         max_score: Optional maximum score for the judgement - if provided, the score will be clamped to this value.
@@ -74,25 +77,31 @@ async def evaluate(
         input: t.Any | None = input,
         expected_output: t.Any | None = expected_output,
         model_params: rg.GenerateParams | AnyDict | None = model_params,
+        fallback_model: str | rg.Generator | None = fallback_model,
         min_score: float | None = min_score,
         max_score: float | None = max_score,
         system_prompt: str | None = system_prompt,
     ) -> list[Metric]:
-        generator: rg.Generator
-        if isinstance(model, str):
-            generator = rg.get_generator(
-                model,
-                params=model_params
-                if isinstance(model_params, rg.GenerateParams)
-                else rg.GenerateParams.model_validate(model_params)
-                if model_params
-                else None,
-            )
-        elif isinstance(model, rg.Generator):
-            generator = model
-        else:
+        def _create_generator(
+            model: str | rg.Generator,
+            params: rg.GenerateParams | AnyDict | None,
+        ) -> rg.Generator:
+            """Create a Generator from a model identifier or return the Generator instance."""
+            if isinstance(model, str):
+                return rg.get_generator(
+                    model,
+                    params=params
+                    if isinstance(params, rg.GenerateParams)
+                    else rg.GenerateParams.model_validate(params)
+                    if params
+                    else None,
+                )
+            if isinstance(model, rg.Generator):
+                return model
             raise TypeError("Model must be a string identifier or a Generator instance.")
 
+        generator = _create_generator(model, model_params)
+
         input_data = JudgeInput(
             input=str(input) if input is not None else None,
             expected_output=str(expected_output) if expected_output is not None else None,
@@ -100,10 +109,36 @@ async def evaluate(
             rubric=rubric,
         )
 
-        pipeline = generator.chat([])
-        if system_prompt:
-            pipeline.chat.inject_system_content(system_prompt)
-        judgement = await judge.bind(pipeline)(input_data)
+        # Track fallback usage for observability
+        used_fallback = False
+        primary_error: str | None = None
+
+        # Try primary model, fallback if needed
+        try:
+            pipeline = generator.chat([])
+            if system_prompt:
+                pipeline.chat.inject_system_content(system_prompt)
+            judgement = await judge.bind(pipeline)(input_data)
+        except Exception as e:
+            if fallback_model is None:
+                raise
+            # Log primary model failure and fallback usage
+            used_fallback = True
+            primary_error = f"{type(e).__name__}: {e}"
+            primary_model_name = model if isinstance(model, str) else type(model).__name__
+            fallback_model_name = (
+                fallback_model if isinstance(fallback_model, str) else type(fallback_model).__name__
+            )
+            logger.warning(
+                f"Primary model '{primary_model_name}' failed with {primary_error}. "
+                f"Using fallback model '{fallback_model_name}'."
+            )
+            # Use fallback model
+            generator = _create_generator(fallback_model, model_params)
+            pipeline = generator.chat([])
+            if system_prompt:
+                pipeline.chat.inject_system_content(system_prompt)
+            judgement = await judge.bind(pipeline)(input_data)
 
         if min_score is not None:
             judgement.score = max(min_score, judgement.score)
@@ -117,6 +152,15 @@ async def evaluate(
             value=judgement.score,
             attributes={
                 "reason": judgement.reason,
+                "used_fallback": used_fallback,
+                "fallback_model": (
+                    str(fallback_model)
+                    if isinstance(fallback_model, str)
+                    else type(fallback_model).__name__
+                )
+                if used_fallback
+                else None,
+                "primary_error": primary_error,
             },
         )
         pass_metric = Metric(value=float(judgement.passing))