DOJ Files Misconduct Complaint Against Minnesota Judges Over New York Times Interviews

The Department of Justice filed a judicial misconduct complaint on Wednesday against a group of Minnesota federal judges, alleging that their comments to The New York Times violated ethical standards. The complaint centers on interviews in which the judges criticized the Trump administration’s handling of immigration enforcement cases within the state.

Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, Jr. authored the filing, which requests that the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals investigate what the DOJ described as “improper and unethical conduct.” The department is seeking the mandatory recusal of all seven active-status judges in the District of Minnesota from any cases involving the Department of Homeland Security.

The complaint specifically identified Judge Patrick Schiltz and Judge John Tunheim, both of whom were named in the newspaper article. The remaining judges participated on the condition of anonymity. According to the filing, the named judges “flagrantly violated the Code of Judicial Conduct” through their remarks to the press.

Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a statement regarding the complaint, asserting that the judges discussed ongoing cases in a manner that breached their professional obligations. “Their conduct has undermined public confidence in an impartial judiciary in Minnesota,” Blanche said.

The controversy stems from a September 17 report by The New York Times, which highlighted judicial concerns over federal immigration actions. This legal action marks a significant escalation in tensions between the Department of Justice and the federal bench in the Upper Midwest.