NowWire · AI-assisted reporting summary · October 1, 2026 UTC
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a judicial misconduct complaint against nearly all federal district judges in Minnesota after they spoke with the New York Times regarding the administration's immigration enforcement surge, Operation Metro Surge. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the filing at a press conference, stating the department is asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit to order judges Patrick Schiltz and John Tunheim to recuse themselves from Department of Homeland Security cases due to alleged bias. [1] [2]
The underlying New York Times article featured interviews with several judges discussing a heavy caseload and repeated violations of court orders during the winter crackdown. In statements responding to the complaint, Judge Schiltz and a spokesperson for the federal district court maintained that the judges acted fully within ethical rules, pointing to an advisory opinion from the Judicial Conference allowing judges to address core judicial matters and judicial independence. [1] [2]
Sources
- Justice Department files judicial misconduct complaint against federal judges in Minnesota — 2026-09-30T12:51:00-0400
- WATCH: Justice Department files complaint against judges over immigration enforcement surge comments — 2026-09-30T17:01:09-04:00