A federal jury convicted Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan of one count of felony obstruction after prosecutors said she helped a man in the U.S. illegally avoid arrest by federal immigration agents at her courthouse. She was acquitted of a misdemeanor charge alleging she concealed an individual to prevent an arrest. Dugan had sought dismissal based on judicial immunity, did not testify at the four-day trial, and was suspended by the Wisconsin Supreme Court following her April arrest.
Milwaukee Judge Convicted Of Felony Obstruction After Allegedly Helping Migrant Evade Arrest
A federal jury on Thursday convicted Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan of one count of felony obstruction after prosecutors said she helped a man in the U.S. illegally evade federal immigration agents during an enforcement action at her courthouse, the Associated Press reported.
What the Government Says Happened
According to a sworn FBI statement introduced at trial, Dugan escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out of her courtroom through a "jury door" that leads to a nonpublic area of the courthouse while federal immigration agents were waiting in a hallway to arrest him. Agents later spotted Flores-Ruiz in the courthouse, pursued him outside and made an arrest after a foot chase.
Court Proceedings And Defense Arguments
Dugan was arrested in April and pleaded not guilty to both charges. She was tried on a felony obstruction count and a separate misdemeanor charge alleging she concealed an individual to prevent an arrest; jurors acquitted her of the misdemeanor. Her legal team argued for dismissal on the grounds that she acted within the scope of her official duties and was therefore entitled to judicial immunity, but the court denied those motions. The trial lasted four days in federal court in Milwaukee. Dugan did not testify; a fellow judge who testified for the government said she was surprised by Dugan's conduct.
Aftermath
Flores-Ruiz has since been deported. Following Dugan's arrest, the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended her from the bench in late April; Milwaukee County Circuit Court Chief Judge Carl Ashley said a reserve judge would assume her docket as needed. Dugan's attorney, Steven Biskupic, said he was disappointed with the verdict. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche praised the conviction on X, saying Dugan had "betrayed her oath and the people she served."
Source: Associated Press reporting.
