Judge Found Guilty of Obstructing Federal Proceeding
A federal jury in Wisconsin on Thursday convicted Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan of obstructing a federal proceeding related to a planned immigration arrest outside her courtroom. Dugan, 66, was acquitted of a second charge accusing her of concealing a person from arrest. She had pleaded not guilty.
“This Department will not tolerate obstruction, will enforce federal immigration law, and will hold criminals to account—even those who wear robes,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on social media following the verdict.
The Incident
Prosecutors said Dugan intentionally helped a migrant from Mexico, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, avoid a planned ICE arrest while he was appearing in her courtroom on domestic violence charges. Dugan allegedly diverted federal agents and escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a private exit.
“She was focused on orchestrating Flores-Ruiz’s escape,” prosecutor Keith Alexander told the jury. “She knew what she was doing. She did it anyway.”
ICE agents, dressed in plainclothes, had planned to arrest Flores-Ruiz in a hallway outside the courtroom. Testimony indicated that Dugan confronted the agents, redirected them to the chief judge’s office, and privately escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out. Flores-Ruiz was later arrested after briefly fleeing through a public hallway.
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Defense Arguments
Dugan’s lawyers argued she was following courthouse policy, which required staff to notify a supervisor when ICE agents were present. They described the situation as chaotic, noting two prior ICE arrests had created confusion.
“All she did was send him out into the hallway with his lawyer,” attorney Steven Biskupic told the jury.
Background
Dugan has been a Milwaukee County judge since 2016. Before that, she led the local branch of Catholic Charities, a refugee resettlement organization, and spent much of her legal career at the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, serving low-income clients.
Implications and Controversy
The case marks a rare instance of a judge being prosecuted for actions in the courtroom and highlights tensions over the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement policies. Justice Department officials emphasized that no one is above the law, including judges.
However, critics argue that ICE operations in courthouses can undermine public trust in the judicial system and discourage vulnerable individuals from seeking justice.
The conviction is being viewed as a clear message that federal officials will pursue cases of obstruction, even against powerful local authorities.
