A Wisconsin judge, Hannah Dugan, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges alleging that she assisted a man illegally residing in the United States evade arrest by U.S. immigration authorities. During a brief arraignment in federal court on Thursday, Dugan's plea was entered, and Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries set a trial date for July. Dugan's lead attorney, Steven Biskupic, indicated that he expects the trial to last approximately one week.
Judge Dugan is facing serious allegations, including concealing an individual to prevent arrest and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors claim that on April 18, she escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a man wanted for being in the U.S. illegally, and his attorney out of her courtroom through a back door after she learned that agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were present in the courthouse to arrest him.
If convicted on both counts, Dugan could face a maximum of six years in prison. However, her attorneys maintain her innocence and filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing that she was acting in her official capacity as a judge and should therefore be immune from prosecution. They also assert that the federal government violated Wisconsin’s sovereignty by intervening in a state courtroom.
The charges against Judge Dugan have intensified the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic leaders over immigration policies. Ahead of the hearing, a crowd of demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse, holding signs with slogans such as “Only Fascists Arrest Judges -- Drop the Charges” and “Department of Justice Over-Reach.” The demonstrators vocally supported Dugan and called for the protection of judicial independence, chanting phrases like “Due process rights” and “Hands off our freedom.”
Amid the protests, one individual stood alone across the street holding a Trump flag, illustrating the divisive nature of the case.
According to court documents, Flores-Ruiz illegally reentered the U.S. after being deported in 2013. He was charged with three counts of misdemeanor domestic abuse in Milwaukee County earlier in March and was in Judge Dugan’s courtroom for a hearing related to that case on April 18.
As detailed in an FBI affidavit, Dugan was alerted to the presence of ICE agents by her clerk, who had received information from an attorney about the agents being in the hallway. Dugan reportedly expressed anger over the situation, calling it “absurd,” before leaving the bench. Witnesses described her demeanor as “confrontational” during interactions with the arrest team in the courthouse.
After a contentious exchange with the agents regarding the warrant for Flores-Ruiz, Dugan led the agents from her courtroom. Upon returning, she allegedly directed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to exit through a door usually reserved for deputies and in-custody defendants. Subsequently, federal agents detained Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse following a foot chase.
In the wake of her arrest, the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Dugan, stating that the action was necessary to maintain public confidence in the judiciary. Dugan was released after her arrest, and legal experts suggest that the Trump administration may be using this case as an example to assert its strict immigration policies.
John Vaudreuil, a former federal prosecutor in Wisconsin who is not associated with Dugan’s or Flores-Ruiz’s cases, noted that high-ranking officials such as U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi might be making critical decisions in this case. This situation may impact the likelihood of reduced charges against Dugan in any potential plea deal. Legal analysts predict that Dugan's attorneys will push for a jury trial, considering the strong public sentiments surrounding immigration policies.
Judge Dugan is represented by a team of distinguished attorneys, including Biskupic, a former U.S. attorney, and Paul Clement, a former U.S. solicitor general with extensive experience in the Supreme Court. Both attorneys were appointed to their roles by former Republican President George W. Bush.
