Breaking: Todd Blanche Targets Minnesota Federal Judges

Image Source: CBS News

Todd Blanche, the U.S. attorney general, announced an unusual judicial misconduct complaint Wednesday against nearly every federal district judge in Minnesota. The filing follows public comments several judges made about the Trump administration’s handling of immigration cases during a major enforcement operation earlier this year.

The Justice Department submitted the complaint to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit. Blanche said the department had a responsibility to respond after judges allegedly made political and improper statements about pending cases and government actions.

Todd Blanche Launches a Rare Complaint Against Minnesota Judges

The complaint names Judge Patrick Schiltz and Judge John Tunheim, while also referring to other Minnesota district judges anonymously. Six of the seven members of the federal bench reportedly spoke with The New York Times about Operation Metro Surge, the immigration enforcement campaign launched by the Trump administration in December 2025.

“We have a right, just like every litigant in court, to have a judge that will be fair and impartial,” Blanche said at a Justice Department news conference. “We have no choice but to act.”

Justice Department officials described the comments from Schiltz and Tunheim as serious violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter and Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward signed the filing.

• The complaint asks the 8th Circuit to investigate the judges’ conduct.
• It seeks the recusal of Schiltz and Tunheim from cases involving the Department of Homeland Security.
• Officials accuse the judges of using public comments to criticize the administration.
• The filing also calls for scrutiny of Minnesota judges allegedly seeking publicity.

Why the Justice Department Is Challenging the Judges

The dispute centers on a New York Times report published earlier in September. Schiltz participated in a 90-minute interview and discussed what he described as repeated violations of court orders by the Trump administration.

Schiltz, who was appointed by President George W. Bush and previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, said the government had failed to comply with numerous judicial directives. In one order, he wrote, “ICE is not a law unto itself.”

Tunheim, who was appointed by President Bill Clinton, also questioned the administration’s description of its immigration campaign. He pushed back against the claim that federal authorities were primarily arresting the “worst of the worst,” telling the newspaper that many people detained were not dangerous criminals on the street.

McCotter and Woodward argued that Schiltz’s remarks were political and concerned matters pending before the court or an appeals panel. They described Tunheim’s comments as shorter but equally improper.

Judicial Ethics Guidance Adds Complexity

The complaint comes months after the Judicial Conference issued guidance on judges’ public speech and civic engagement. The policy-making body for the federal courts said judges may discuss judicial independence and advocate generally for the rule of law.

The guidance also said judges may, in certain circumstances, defend judicial colleagues against illegitimate criticism that threatens the independence of the courts. That language is central to Schiltz’s defense.

“As legal-ethics experts have confirmed, I was acting well within the ethical rules that apply to federal judges in speaking to The New York Times,” Schiltz said in a statement. He said his comments addressed core judicial matters, including the rule of law and judicial independence.

A spokesperson for the federal district court said the Minnesota judges acted within the authority described by the Judicial Conference and complied with ethics rules governing the federal judiciary.

Immigration Enforcement Raised Courtroom Tensions

Operation Metro Surge sent more than 3,000 immigration authorities to Minnesota as part of a nationwide enforcement campaign. Border czar Tom Homan announced in February that the operation would wind down and that federal officers would be withdrawn from the state.

The enforcement push nevertheless produced intense clashes between federal authorities and protesters. Two people, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were killed in Minnesota in January, prompting criticism of tactics used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.

Meanwhile, Minnesota’s federal courts received scores of petitions from migrants challenging their detention and seeking release. In one case involving an Ecuadorian man, Schiltz identified 96 court orders in 74 cases that he said ICE had violated.

He wrote in another order that the administration had sent thousands of agents into Minnesota without preparing for the hundreds of habeas petitions and other lawsuits that followed. The judge warned that the court’s patience had reached its limit.

A Wider Fight Over Federal Judicial Authority

The complaint is part of a broader escalation between the Trump administration and federal judges. The president and senior officials have repeatedly attacked judges on social media, calling some “radical left judges” and “activists” after rulings against the government.

The Justice Department previously filed misconduct complaints involving federal judges in Washington, D.C. One complaint against Chief Judge James Boasberg was dismissed after officials failed to provide sufficient evidence. Another complaint targeted Judge Ana Reyes over comments made during a hearing concerning transgender military service.

The Minnesota filing now places judicial ethics, immigration enforcement and separation-of-powers concerns at the center of a high-profile legal confrontation. Its outcome could influence how openly federal judges discuss threats to court authority and whether the Justice Department can demand recusals based on public statements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Todd Blanche announce?

Todd Blanche announced that the Justice Department had filed a judicial misconduct complaint against nearly all federal district judges in Minnesota.

Why did the Justice Department file the complaint?

The department alleges that several judges made improper, political or unethical comments about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies and pending court matters.

Which judges are named?

The complaint specifically names Judge Patrick Schiltz and Judge John Tunheim. It also refers to other Minnesota district judges anonymously.

What does Judge Schiltz say?

Schiltz says he acted within federal judicial ethics rules by discussing judicial independence, the rule of law and alleged violations of court orders.