DOJ moves to boot federal judges from immigration cases over NYT interview

By Fox News · Fox News

The Justice Department wants several Minnesota federal judges removed from immigration cases after accusing them of crossing an ethical line by publicly criticizing President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown. The complaint argued the judges improperly commented on the Trump administration's immigration enforcement while related cases were still pending, undermining public confidence in their impartiality. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Wednesday that the Justice Department filed a judicial misconduct complaint with the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals against seven Minnesota federal judges over their participation in a New York Times interview published last September. "These judges talked to the media, or at least The New York Times, about cases, some of which are ongoing, in a manner which the Department views as a clear violation of their ethical duties," Blanche said. ‘UNPRECEDENTED’: JUDGES REVEAL BEHIND-THE-SCENES COORDINATION ON TRUMP IMMIGRATION CASES The complaint specifically names Judge Patrick Schiltz, appointed by President George W. Bush, and Judge John Tunheim, a Clinton appointee, along with unnamed district judges who also participated in the interviews. The Justice Department asked the Eighth Circuit's Judicial Council to investigate the judges' conduct and order Schiltz and Tunheim to recuse themselves from Department of Homeland Security immigration cases , arguing that their impartiality could reasonably be questioned. But, whether that happens, however, is not up to the Justice Department. Under the federal judiciary's judicial misconduct process, complaints are reviewed within the judicial branch. The chief judge of the circuit — which for the Eighth Circuit is Steven Colloton, a Bush-appointee — would first determine whether a complaint should be dismissed or referred to a special committee for further investigation, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. If a committee is appointed, it submits findings to the…