Former President Donald Trump's request to recuse Judge Juan Merchan in his New York hush money case has raised concerns about the potential disqualification of judges across America. Trump argues that Merchan should be removed due to accusations of conflicts of interest, specifically focusing on Merchan's daughter, Loren, who works at a Democratic political consulting firm.

However, attorney Bennett Gershman, a Pace University law professor and former New York prosecutor, has criticized Trump's argument, stating that if one were to scrutinize the background of any judge in America, including those on the U.S. Supreme Court, they could potentially be disqualified from sitting.

Trump has been advocating for Merchan's removal from the case, which accuses him of filing fraudulent financial records to conceal hush money payments made during the 2016 election. The former president has pleaded not guilty to the 34 criminal counts brought against him by District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

In Trump's recent filing on Monday, he further pushed for Merchan's recusal, claiming that Loren Merchan's firm could financially benefit based on the judge's ruling. However, prosecutors countered on Tuesday, asserting that there were no new circumstances to warrant revisiting the New York judicial ethics board's previous review, which found no reason to question Merchan's impartiality.

Gershman dismissed Trump's argument as baseless and overly broad, stating that it relies on speculation and irresponsible insinuation regarding the influence of Merchan's daughter on his rulings.

The situation escalated when Merchan expanded a gag order on Trump after the former president made false claims about Loren Merchan on social media. The revised gag order permits Trump to criticize Merchan and Bragg but prohibits him from making statements about their families. Non-compliance could result in contempt of court charges, fines, or even jail time.

Gershman commented on the gag order, expressing astonishment at the "current escalation" of Trump's "violent rhetoric" towards the courts, prosecutors, and their relatives. He also suggested that Trump's behavior stems from a sense of fear, as he faces four major criminal trials that could potentially impact his liberty.

Jury selection for Trump's hush money case is scheduled to begin on April 15 in Manhattan, potentially leading to a swift trial conclusion in May. Legal experts anticipate the possibility of at least one verdict before the November presidential ballot.

Newsweek has reached out to Trump's spokesperson for comment on the matter.