- A federal grand jury indicted Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan for allegedly helping an illegal immigrant evade ICE arrest, obstructing justice, and concealing a twice-deported domestic violence suspect.
- Dugan faces up to six years in prison for obstruction and concealing a fugitive, with the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspending her amid public trust concerns.
- Courtroom witnesses say Dugan became confrontational with federal agents, ordered them to leave, and allegedly helped the suspect escape through a restricted exit before he was caught.
- The case mirrors a similar Massachusetts scandal, raising alarms about judges defying federal immigration enforcement and undermining the rule of law.
- Critics, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, condemned Dugan’s actions, while her defenders claim the charges are an attack on judicial independence.
In a stunning breach of judicial ethics, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly helping an illegal immigrant evade arrest by federal immigration authorities. The indictment, handed down on May 13, accuses Dugan of obstructing justice and deliberately concealing Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a twice-deported Mexican national facing domestic violence charges, from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The case has ignited a firestorm over judicial overreach, with critics warning that rogue judges are increasingly undermining federal law enforcement in the name of political activism.
Dugan, who was arrested by the FBI on April 25, now faces one count of obstructing a federal proceeding and another of concealing a fugitive in charges that could land her up to six years in prison if convicted. The Wisconsin Supreme Court swiftly suspended her from the bench, but the damage to public trust in the judiciary may be far more lasting.
A brazen courtroom deception
The incident unfolded on April 18, when Dugan presided over a hearing for Flores-Ruiz, who had been charged with multiple counts of misdemeanor battery. According to an FBI affidavit, federal agents from ICE, the FBI, and the DEA were stationed outside the courtroom, prepared to arrest Flores-Ruiz after the hearing due to his illegal immigration status. But instead of allowing due process to take its course, Dugan allegedly took matters into her own hands.
Witnesses reported that Dugan became "visibly upset and had a confrontational, angry demeanor" upon learning of the agents’ presence. She then ordered them to leave the area and report to the chief judge’s office in an obvious attempt to clear the path for Flores-Ruiz’s escape. Moments later, Dugan allegedly escorted the defendant and his attorney through a restricted "jury door," a nonpublic exit typically reserved for defendants in custody.
The scheme nearly worked. Flores-Ruiz made it outside the courthouse before a DEA agent spotted him, leading to a dramatic foot chase. He was eventually apprehended, but the fact that a sitting judge allegedly orchestrated his flight from justice has sent shockwaves through the legal community.
A pattern of judicial defiance
Dugan’s case is not an isolated incident. It mirrors a similar scandal in Massachusetts, where a federal judge was accused of helping an illegal immigrant escape ICE by sneaking him out a back door. That case was ultimately dismissed, but the trend of judges flouting federal immigration enforcement is alarming. Critics argue that such actions erode the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent for judicial activism.
Attorney General Pam Bondi minced no words in condemning Dugan’s alleged misconduct. "You cannot obstruct a criminal case," Bondi said. "And really, shame on her. It was a domestic violence case of all cases, and she's protecting a criminal defendant over victims of crime." Bondi also revealed that Flores-Ruiz had violently assaulted two people, leaving both hospitalized—a fact that makes Dugan’s alleged interference even more egregious.
The indictment of a judge for obstructing federal law enforcement is rare, but the Dugan case highlights a growing tension between progressive local officials and federal immigration authorities. The Trump administration has taken a hardline stance against sanctuary policies, and this prosecution sends a clear message: no one, not even a judge, is above the law.
Yet Dugan’s defenders, including over 150 former judges, have framed her arrest as an attack on judicial independence. In a letter to Bondi, they accused the Justice Department of undermining the rule of law and intimidating the judiciary. But such arguments ring hollow when a judge is accused of actively subverting federal authority to shield a criminal defendant.
Dugan’s legal team insists she is innocent and will be "vindicated in court." But the evidence, as laid out in the FBI’s affidavit, paints a damning picture of a judge who allegedly abused her power to thwart lawful enforcement.
The American legal system depends on judges who administer justice impartially, not those who manipulate proceedings to serve an agenda. Dugan’s indictment should serve as a warning to any jurist tempted to place activism above the law. The rule of law must prevail, even when it’s inconvenient for those in power.
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