The Justice Department on Wednesday accused two of Minnesota’s federal judges of misconduct for comments made to The New York Times about how their court handled the administration’s immigration surge in Minneapolis this winter. In a six-page complaint filed with the Judicial Council of the Eighth Circuit, the department alleged that the judges’ comments violated ethics rules that limit what judges are allowed to say publicly, particularly on pending cases. It singles out Judge Patrick J. Schiltz and Judge John R. Tunheim, both of whom were quoted in the Times article.
At a news conference on Wednesday, Attorney General Todd Blanche accused the judges of “obvious bias” for giving interviews to The Times about the Trump administration’s immigration surge in Minnesota this winter. Judge Schiltz told The Times that the administration’s actions had “created a grave threat to the rule of law.” Mr. Blanche called those comments “overtly political.” The Justice Department urged a judicial investigation into four other federal judges in Minnesota who spoke to The Times.
In a statement on Wednesday, Judge Schiltz, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, said he was “acting well within the ethical rules that apply to federal judges in speaking to The New York Times.” Judge Tunheim, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, declined to comment. Jeremy Fogel, a retired federal judge who consults with judges on ethics questions, said he did not believe the judges had engaged in misconduct. A spokesman for The Times said, “Seeking to punish or silence those who speak up to journalists about any administration’s agenda undercuts democratic accountability and the public’s right to know.”
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing