Milwaukee County judge found guilty of obstructing federal immigration agents in courthouse incident

A jury found Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstructing federal immigration agents during an attempt to serve a warrant at a courthouse earlier this year.

She faces up to five years in prison on the felony obstruction count.

Dugan was arrested in April after helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz avoid plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who were trying to serve him a warrant. Prosecutors said Dugan helped Flores-Ruiz and his attorney exit her courtroom through a back door on April 18, after learning that ICE agents were in the building to arrest him.

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“While we are disappointed in today’s outcome, the failure of the prosecution to secure convictions on both counts demonstrates the opportunity we have to clear Judge Dugan’s name and show she did nothing wrong in this matter,” Dugan’s defense team said in a statement. “We have planned for this potential outcome and our defense of Judge Dugan is just beginning. This trial required considerable resources to prepare for and public support for Judge Dugan’s defense fund is critical as we prepare for the next phase of this defense.”

Jurors reached the guilty verdict after six hours of deliberations, though Dugan was acquitted on a misdemeanor count of concealing an individual to prevent arrest.

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Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Brad Schimel reacted to the verdict, saying Dugan “is certainly not evil nor is she a martyr for some greater cause.” 

“It was a criminal case, like many that make their way through this courthouse every day, and we all must accept the verdict peacefully,” he said.

Schimel added that prosecutors “weren’t trying to make an example out of anyone.” 

“This was necessary to hold Judge Dugan accountable in our assessment because of the action she took,” he said.

Following the verdict, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Dugan “betrayed her oath and the people she served.”

“Today, a federal jury of her peers found her guilty and sent a clear message: the American people respect law and order. Nobody is above the law,” he wrote on X. “This Department will not tolerate obstruction, will enforce federal immigration law, and will hold criminals to account — even those who wear robes. Thank you to the men and women who keep us safe. We will always protect you.”

Under Wisconsin law, Dugan is no longer eligible to hold public office.

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In April, she was suspended with pay, a roughly $175k-per-year salary, by the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. It’s unclear if the court will make any changes to her employment status in the wake of the verdict, given that the defense is expected to appeal the decision.