Former Wisconsin Judge Avoids Jail Time for Obstruction

Hannah Dugan, a former judge in Wisconsin, has been convicted of felony obstruction but will not face jail time or probation. This stems from her actions in April 2025 when she assisted a Mexican national, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, in evading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who were trying to arrest him at the courthouse.

During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman remarked that this was more about a momentary lapse in judgment from a generally law-abiding individual than any malicious intent. However, he couldn’t ignore the serious nature of her actions.

Prosecutors argued that Dugan had disregarded her responsibilities as a judge, putting both law enforcement and the public in jeopardy. Brad Schimel, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney, emphasized that law enforcement must operate in a secure environment, which Dugan’s actions directly undermined.

“Dugan’s reckless and illegal actions interfered with that goal and created unnecessary risks for all involved. For that, there needed to be serious consequences,” Schimel stated.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that the jury found Dugan guilty of abusing her power to obstruct law enforcement, asserting that her position as a judge should have meant stricter adherence to the law.

On the day of the incident, ICE officials had come to the Milwaukee County courthouse after learning that Flores-Ruiz, who had illegally reentered the U.S., was scheduled for a hearing before Dugan regarding a state battery charge. Dugan confronted the federal agents outside her courtroom, questioning their warrant’s validity and sent them to the chief judge’s office. Meanwhile, she secretly directed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a private exit.

Despite her attempts, the ICE agents caught up with Flores-Ruiz shortly after, leading to his arrest following a brief pursuit. A week later, Dugan was taken into custody by FBI agents within the same courthouse.

At her trial, Dugan’s defense maintained that she was adhering to court protocols that required reporting immigration enforcement to her superiors. After facing scrutiny regarding her impartiality, Dugan resigned from her judgeship in January 2025.

“I have been cast as both a scofflaw and a hero. I am neither,” Dugan commented.

While acknowledging the repercussions Dugan faced, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling insisted that judges cannot pick and choose which laws to follow. In the end, Judge Adelman imposed a $5,000 fine while opting against any prison sentence or probation.