DOJ Seeks Recusal of Minnesota Judges Over Immigration Remarks

The Justice Department is seeking to remove Minnesota federal judges Patrick Schiltz and John Tunheim from separate cases, arguing that their public comments about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operation undermine the appearance of impartiality. The cases involve the administration’s effort to revoke a Minnesota man’s citizenship and a noncitizen accused of illegally voting in the 2024 election. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward said the judges’ remarks—including criticism of the operation’s effects on Minnesota courts and doubts about claims that agents targeted the “worst of the worst”—raise ethical concerns. The judges have described the surge’s impact on the courts and emphasized their responsibility to ensure people’s rights are addressed; an attorney in one case called the DOJ’s argument contrived and baseless. The motions follow a broader DOJ effort to challenge judges over public remarks, including a separate, unsuccessful bid to disqualify Judge Ana Reyes in Washington.