Brief
Justice Department moves to disqualify two Minnesota judges from immigration cases
Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward filed motions to remove two Minnesota federal judges from immigration cases, citing their New York Times remarks on the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, the Justice Department's third‑ranking official, filed motions on Tuesday to disqualify U.S. District Judges Patrick Schiltz and John Tunheim from separate immigration cases in Minnesota, arguing that their recent comments to the New York Times raise questions about impartiality.
What happened
The motions target two distinct cases. In Schiltz's case, the Trump administration seeks to strip a Minnesota man of U.S. citizenship. In Tunheim's case, a South African national faces two charges of illegally voting in the 2024 election and has pleaded not guilty. Both judges had spoken to the New York Times last month about Operation Metro Surge, the administration's 2023‑2024 immigration crackdown in Minnesota. Schiltz has a hearing on the recusal motion scheduled for Nov. 23. The filings were made on Tuesday, following a weekend request by Woodward to disqualify U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes from a separate case involving a public golf course in Washington, D.C.; Reyes rejected that request.
What the reports add
The CBS News report notes that under judicial ethics rules, judges cannot publicly discuss pending cases, making the New York Times remarks a potential breach. Woodward's motion states, "A judge who has publicly taken sides on the political issue of immigration enforcement cannot then preside over a case concerning one of the Justice Department's key immigration initiatives." The filing also references the Justice Department's broader campaign against judges it believes have treated the Trump administration unfairly.
What was said
Woodward wrote in the motion against Schiltz, "Absent recusal, the American people will reasonably question whether Judge Schiltz can be impartial." Judge Ana Reyes, who was asked to step aside from a separate case, accused the Justice Department of "weaponizing selective quotations to bring a baseless recusal motion." Both statements are attributed to the CBS News article.
How it came about
The current filings follow a September 30 Justice Department complaint that alleged bias by Minnesota judges after they discussed Operation Metro Surge with the New York Times. That earlier complaint, reported by Felo News, set the stage for Woodward's latest recusal motions, indicating an escalating strategy by the department to challenge judges perceived as critical of the administration's immigration policies.
Key facts
- Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward filed motions to disqualify Judges Patrick Schiltz and John Tunheim. (cbsnews.com)
- The motions cite the judges' comments to the New York Times about Operation Metro Surge. (cbsnews.com)
- Schiltz's hearing on the recusal motion is set for Nov. 23. (cbsnews.com)
- Tunheim presides over a case involving a South African national charged with illegal voting in the 2024 election. (cbsnews.com)
- Judge Ana Reyes rejected a separate recusal request concerning a public golf‑course case. (cbsnews.com)
Sources
- [1] cbsnews.com — originally reported as “Top Justice Department official asks Minnesota judges to step aside from immigration cases”
