DOJ accuses Mn. judges of misconduct

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The Department of Justice on Wednesday filed a judicial misconduct complaint against Minnesota federal judges for interviews they gave to The New York Times that criticized the Trump administration’s handling of immigration enforcement cases in the state.

The DOJ asked the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to force the recusal of all seven judges on active status who reportedly spoke with The Times from any case involving the Department of Homeland Security.

The complaint also asks the 8th Circuit, which oversees cases arising from the District of Minnesota, to investigate what the DOJ called “the judges’ improper and unethical conduct” in speaking to the newspaper.


The complaint singles out Judge Patrick Schiltz and Judge John Tunheim, who were quoted by name in the article. The other judges spoke to the newspaper on the condition of anonymity.

“Judge Schiltz and Judge Tunheim, at least, have flagrantly violated the Code of Judicial Conduct with their improper and unethical comments to the New York Times,” says the complaint by acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, Jr.


Attorney General Todd Blanche, in a statement, said, “Seven federal judges in the District of Minnesota talked to the New York Times about cases, some of which are on-going, in a manner that the Department of Justice views as a clear violation of their ethical duties.”

“Their conduct has undermined public confidence in an impartial judiciary in Minnesota,” Blanche said.

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