The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan while she faces two federal charges. Dugan was arrested by the FBI on Friday, April 25, and charged with obstructing a proceeding and concealing a person to prevent their arrest.
The charges stem from an incident in which federal agents say she directed a defendant and his attorney through a nonpublic courthouse exit to avoid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
What are the allegations against Judge Dugan?
Federal officials alleged that Dugan intentionally intervened to help Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a man previously deported in 2013, avoid arrest. Court documents said ICE agents were at the courthouse on April 18 with an administrative warrant for Flores-Ruiz.
Witnesses claimed Dugan appeared visibly upset, confronted the agents and told them to speak with the court’s chief judge. While they were away, she allegedly postponed the court hearing and told Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer to follow her through a jury door, typically reserved for court staff, juries and in-custody defendants.
ICE agents apprehended Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse after a foot chase. He had battery charges pending in state court for a misdemeanor.
How has the court responded?
The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a two-page order suspending Dugan from judicial duties, stating the decision was made to protect public confidence in the court system. The order emphasized that the justices acted on their own initiative and not in response to a formal complaint. A reserve judge has taken over Dugan’s caseload for the time being.
What is Dugan’s defense?
Dugan’s legal team denies wrongdoing and says she looks forward to clearing her name in court. Her attorneys criticized the unilateral nature of the suspension and said her arrest was not made in the interest of public safety. Dugan will appear in federal court for arraignment on May 15.
What are the broader implications?
The arrest has sparked political controversy, with critics accusing the Trump administration of using the case to intimidate the judiciary. Demonstrators gathered outside the Milwaukee FBI office the day after Dugan’s arrest.
Meanwhile, ICE policy allows the detention of undocumented individuals who appear in court for criminal matters, but not those appearing as witnesses or victims. Flores-Ruiz was reportedly in court for a state domestic violence case, and according to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the charges involved alleged injuries to two individuals.
