January 5, 2026, 7:21 PM Central Time
- Former Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan will retain her state pension despite being convicted on a felony charge of obstruction.
- Dugan resigned from her position on January 3, facing threats of impeachment from the state’s Republican Party.
- In Wisconsin, pension benefits are generally safeguarded even if criminal charges arise.
- Dugan is appealing her conviction and is not expected to face prison time for the non-violent nature of her offense.
Judge Hannah Dugan will not have her pension affected following a federal jury’s guilty verdict for obstructing a federal immigration officer during an arrest outside the courtroom.
She stepped down on January 3 as Republican lawmakers were gearing up for impeachment proceedings.
A representative from the state Employee Trust Fund Administration, which oversees pensions, mentioned that they keep individual pension details confidential and don’t disclose specific payment info due to privacy laws.
Mark Lamkins from the agency noted that typically, criminal charges alone do not lead to pension forfeiture under Wisconsin law.
“Outside of limited situations, the law doesn’t necessitate that WRS pensions be forfeited due to termination or criminal charges,” Lamkins said in an email. “The pension is based on work, personal contributions, and eligibility, and it’s typically protected.”
However, a 2019 law allows for withholding pension funds if a court mandates it specifically for cases involving felony theft or misconduct relating to a public office, provided there’s a demonstrated loss to the employer.
This exception does not pertain to Dugan’s situation.
Lamkins also clarified that the service duration for judges is calculated based on the fiscal year, not the calendar year, meaning Dugan’s resignation in January 2026 will not significantly impact her pension.
Interestingly, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman hasn’t scheduled a sentencing date yet. Since Dugan is a non-violent, first-time offender, she’s unlikely to receive prison time. She was found not guilty of a related misdemeanor for concealing a wanted person.
Dugan, who is 66, indicated in a letter to Governor Tony Evers that she felt it was time for new leadership in the judicial role rather than engaging in a political battle as the state heads into 2026.
The governor will be responsible for appointing a new judge to fill the vacancy, who will then need to run for election to complete a six-year term in the subsequent spring.
Republicans had pledged to impeach Dugan if she didn’t resign after her conviction for interfering with a federal agency. Now that she has resigned, the impeachment process will not proceed.
While suspended from her position as of April 29, after an individual was arrested in her courtroom, Dugan continued to receive her annual salary of around $175,000.
