DOJ seeks to disqualify two Minnesota judges from immigration cases

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 21:32 · Archive

The Justice Department is seeking to disqualify two federal judges in Minnesota from immigration cases, citing comments they made to the New York Times.

The Justice Department has filed motions seeking the recusal of two Minnesota federal judges from immigration cases, claiming comments they made to the New York Times about the Trump administration's immigration enforcement undermine their impartiality.

Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward filed separate motions against Judges Patrick Schiltz and John Tunheim on Tuesday. In Schiltz's case, the Trump administration is seeking to strip a Minnesota man of his U.S. citizenship. In Tunheim's case, a South African national faces charges of illegally voting in the 2024 election; she has pleaded not guilty. Judge Schiltz has scheduled a hearing on the motion against him for November 23.

The judges spoke with the New York Times about the Trump administration's Operation Metro Surge immigration crackdown. The Justice Department argued that their public participation in the article, "along with Judge Schiltz's subsequent public comments, unquestionably calls into doubt whether they can be impartial in these cases." The motions represent an escalation of what the Justice Department describes as its campaign against judges it claims have treated the Trump administration unfairly.

Judge Ana Reyes, a federal judge in Washington D.C., rejected a similar Justice Department recusal motion on Sunday, accusing the department of weaponizing "selective quotations" in her case.

How it is being reported

• DOJ moves to boot two federal judges from immigration cases over remarks to media: 'Extraordinarily imprudent'Two Minnesota federal judges who criticized Trump's Operation Metro Surge in a report published by the New York Times now face DOJ recusal motions tied to their immigration cases.Fox News · 22 Oct, 21:15
• Top DOJ official asks judges to step aside from immigration casesA top official at the Justice Department is attempting to disqualify two Minnesota federal judges from a pair of cases related to immigration.CBS News · 21 Oct, 21:11

In this story: Patrick Schiltz · John Tunheim · Stanley Woodward · Justice Department · Minnesota · New York Times

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