The judicial system is increasingly becoming a battleground for political disputes, as calls for judges to recuse themselves from high-profile cases surge from both the left and the right. Legal experts attribute this rise to the escalating politicization of the courts.

Recent controversies include Republican demands for the recusal of judges in former President Donald Trump’s trials and Democratic allegations of ethical violations by Supreme Court justices. “The courts, in many ways, have become a battleground for politics that produces the kind of ‘anything goes’ sort of argument,” said Elliot Mincberg, senior fellow at People For the American Way.

Pro-Trump conservatives have called for New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan to recuse himself from Trump’s hush money trial and for U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to step aside from the federal election interference case. Trump’s attorneys argued that Judge Merchan’s impartiality was compromised due to his daughter’s work for a Democratic-aligned firm. However, Merchan, citing the New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, refused to step down, leading to Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records.

Similarly, Trump’s legal team sought to remove Judge Chutkan from the election interference case, citing her critical comments about Trump during the January 6 riot trials. Chutkan denied the recusal request, emphasizing that judges should not recuse without substantial cause. The Supreme Court is currently deliberating on whether Trump is immune from criminal charges for actions taken while in office.

Democrats have also been vocal in their calls for judicial recusals. They have targeted U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, appointed by Trump, who oversees the former president’s classified documents case in Florida. Critics claim Judge Cannon is deliberately delaying the case. Online petitions seeking her removal have gained traction, citing her perceived bias.

Additionally, Democratic lawmakers have repeatedly called for the recusal of Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. from cases related to the January 6 riot. Justice Thomas faces scrutiny due to his wife’s attendance at Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally and reports of undisclosed luxury trips funded by a Republican donor. Justice Alito has been criticized for displaying symbols associated with political causes at his properties.

“There’s a crisis on the court,” said Sen. Christopher Murphy (D-CT), highlighting the ethical concerns surrounding Justices Thomas and Alito. He accused Justice Thomas of engaging in a “grift” and Justice Alito of openly supporting political causes.

Elliot Mincberg argued that the calls for recusal against Judge Merchan and Judge Chutkan are less justified than those against Justices Thomas and Alito, as well as Judge Cannon. “The arguments made by Trump for recusal of Merchan, for example, or the other arguments made by the right seem a lot more flimsy,” he said.

Curt Levey, president of the conservative Committee for Justice, suggested that many recusal calls are politically motivated theatrics. He noted that Democratic attacks on the judiciary have contributed to a decline in public confidence in the rule of law. “Cynicism about the judiciary is way up, and I think that leads both to an increase in people calling for recusal … and I think it also sort of makes those calls resound more,” Levey said.

As the political climate intensifies, the judiciary faces mounting pressure from all sides, highlighting the delicate balance between legal impartiality and political influence.