Minnesota Judge Rules DOJ May Use Military Lawyers in Civil Prosecution

The ruling stems from the case of Paul Johnson, a Minnesota resident charged with assaulting CBP officers in January.

The logo for the Department of Justice at a news conference at the department in Washington, on Aug. 23, 2024. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File

A Minnesota judge ruled on May 1 that the government’s use of military lawyers to assist the Department of Justice (DOJ) in prosecuting civilians in Minnesota is lawful under federal law.

The ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge Shannon G. Elkins stemmed from the case of Paul Johnson, a Minnesota resident who was charged in January with assaulting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers during immigration enforcement in the state.