Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of obstruction and harboring an individual to prevent arrest, following allegations that she helped an undocumented immigrant avoid detention by federal agents.
The incident occurred on April 18, when Dugan allegedly instructed Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to leave her courtroom through a restricted exit reserved for jurors. ICE agents were reportedly waiting outside the courtroom to detain Flores-Ruiz, who had previously been deported in 2013 and was facing misdemeanor domestic abuse charges.
Flores-Ruiz was later captured after a brief foot chase outside the courthouse. Following the incident, Judge Dugan was arrested on April 25 and has since been suspended from her judicial duties by the Wisconsin Supreme Court pending further legal proceedings.
She is scheduled for arraignment this week. If convicted, she could face up to six years in prison. Dugan’s legal team has denied any wrongdoing and expressed confidence in clearing her name.
The case has ignited debate over the role of judges in immigration-related matters, with critics calling the indictment a necessary act of accountability, while others argue it could set a troubling precedent for judicial independence. The trial is expected to be closely watched as tensions over immigration enforcement and judicial authority continue to build.