DOJ ramps up fight against federal judges after some in Minnesota speak to media about immigration surge cases

Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Wednesday that the Justice Department will lodge a misconduct complaint over almost the entire federal bench in Minnesota, sharply raising tension between the Trump administration and the judiciary. The friction peaked during the winter surge of immigration enforcement in the state, according to CNN.

Blanche said the move was set off by a New York Times story in which six of the judges characterized the department's noncompliance with court orders during that surge as a serious danger to the rule of law. The judges stressed that a shortage of Justice Department staff seemed to hamper the administration's ability to follow their directives, a point they have raised before in court settings. Blanche countered that their remarks were "overtly political," broke judicial rules and revealed bias against the Department of Homeland Security. He also said some of the cases they discussed are still ongoing, and that the department sees speaking to the press as a clear breach of their ethical duties.

While the appeals court that supervises Minnesota's federal judges considers the complaint, Blanche wants the district judges to step aside from any cases involving Homeland Security. CNN reports that the demand may accomplish little, since earlier attempts to fight back have failed. One example is a Justice Department lawsuit against every federal judge in Maryland, which challenged an order limiting how fast the administration could deport migrants contesting removal.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN →