MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota (Fox News) — Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota has been involved in controversial disputes, including a clash over the proposed arrest of Don Lemon. Attorney General Pam Bondi has obtained an indictment against Lemon after Schiltz delayed a ruling on the matter. Another conflict emerged with Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, but the detainee was eventually released.

Judge Schiltz and his wife have donated to the Minnesota Immigrant Legal Center, an organization that advocates on immigration policies. This has raised concerns about Schiltz’s impartiality in immigration-related cases. The judicial recusal standard may require Schiltz to step back from cases where there is an appearance of bias.

District judges like Schiltz may not have jurisdiction over immigration detention cases, as stated by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Intervening in deportation cases where jurisdiction is improper could compromise the integrity of the judicial process. It is suggested that Schiltz and other district judges avoid such cases to maintain fairness.

Will Chamberlain, senior counsel for the Article III Project, provided this analysis.