If Trump’s lawyers thought they could get Merchan recused at the appellate level, they’d already be there.
Im guessing that means they don’t think he can be made to recuse at any level up to USSC, because all appellate routes must be exhausted as the level of appeals rises? I don’t claim to have any meaningful legal knowledge. It just seems that sometimes appeals appear to leapfrog lower appellate courts to go higher and I’m not sure why and under what limited? circumstances. I also wonder if you pass over a lower court to directly appeal higher, that you might anger the higher court by your actions and stand less of a chance of being successful?