McLean: Immigration Judges are "U.S. Judges" for purposes of Criminal Statute Prohibiting Interference with Federal Officials

In United States v. McLean, No. 17-10741 (June 8, 2018) (Jordan, Wilson, Higginbotham), the Court upheld the defendant's conviction for threatening to assault an immigration judge with the intent to interfere with that judge's performance of official duties.

The Court rejected the defendant's argument that an immigration judge was not a "United States judge" within the meaning of the statute of conviction.  Because the statute defined that term to include U.S. Magistrate Judges, that foreclosed the defendant's argument that it was limited to Article III judges.  And the Court rejected his additional argument that immigration judges did not qualify because they are appointed by the Attorney General and serve within the Executive branch, emphasizing that they function as "judicial officers."