A federal grand jury has indicted Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan, allowing charges against her to proceed. Dugan, who was accused of helping a man evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, now faces up to six years in prison if convicted on charges of concealing an individual to prevent arrest and obstruction.
The case has garnered attention amid a broader clash between the Trump administration and local authorities over immigration policies. Dugan, who presides over Milwaukee County, was charged in April following an incident on April 18. According to court documents, Dugan allegedly escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a man facing misdemeanor domestic abuse charges, out of her courtroom through a back jury door after learning that ICE agents were waiting to arrest him. Flores-Ruiz had illegally reentered the U.S. after being deported in 2013.
Dugan’s actions reportedly angered her colleagues and the immigration agents, sparking a confrontation over the warrant for Flores-Ruiz’s arrest. The judge later led him and his attorney through a restricted area in the courthouse, allowing them to evade arrest temporarily. Flores-Ruiz was ultimately apprehended after a foot chase outside the courthouse.
Dugan’s defense team maintains her innocence and looks forward to clearing her name in court. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday, where she will enter her plea. Her case mirrors a previous incident during the Trump administration in Massachusetts, where a judge was accused of helping a defendant avoid ICE agents, but the case was eventually dismissed.
In response to the indictment, the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Dugan from the bench in late April, with a reserve judge temporarily taking over her duties.
