DOJ says the Minnesota judges' conduct undermined confidence in an impartial judiciary
United States Department of JusticeAttorney General Todd Blanche, speaking for DOJ
DOJ argues that the judges' conduct undermined public confidence in an impartial judiciary in Minnesota.
Responding to
The judges' public immigration-enforcement comments compromise their impartiality and warrant recusal.
“Their conduct has undermined public confidence in an impartial judiciary in Minnesota.”
Official statement
Reporting
Where this statement fits
DOJ seeks Minnesota judges' recusal over immigration-enforcement interviews
DOJ says Patrick Schiltz and John Tunheim compromised their impartiality by discussing immigration enforcement publicly. Schiltz says his comments were permitted advocacy for judicial independence and the rule of law. Separate recusal motions now target cases before the two judges.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
DOJ alleges that the interviews violated judicial ethics and seeks investigation and recusal. The allegations are not a misconduct finding.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
MPR distinguishes the misconduct complaint from motions in the Ahmed and Weihmann cases, and reproduces Schiltz's defense of his interviews.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The department announces its misconduct complaint and request for recusal from DHS matters.
After the quotation
Schiltz disputes that his interviews violated judicial ethics. The misconduct complaint and recusal motions are allegations, not findings.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
DOJ gives its justification for the recusal demand, which is the fixed subject of this case.
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More from this case
Read the full caseSchiltz says his New York Times interviews were within judicial ethics rules
“well within the ethical rules that apply to federal judges in speaking to the New York Times.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "DOJ says the Minnesota judges' conduct undermined confidence in an impartial judiciary". First published: 2026-10-22. Last updated: 2026-10-22. https://disputeindex.com/events/6452-doj-argues-that-the-judges-conduct-undermined-public