Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was found guilty of helping an illegal migrant evade immigration agents as they attempted to serve him with a warrant during a court appearance.
Dugan was busted in April on felony obstruction and misdemeanor charges after she helped Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer sneak out a back jury door when ICE agents showed up at the courthouse to detain him, prosecutors said.
While jurors acquitted Dugan on the misdemeanor concealment count, they found her guilty Thursday of felony obstruction.
“While we are disappointed in today’s outcome, the failure of the prosecution to secure convictions on both counts demonstrates the opportunity we have to clear Judge Dugan’s name and show she did nothing wrong in this matter,” Dugan’s defense team said in a statement.
“We have planned for this potential outcome and our defense of Judge Dugan is just beginning. This trial required considerable resources to prepare for and public support for Judge Dugan’s defense fund is critical as we prepare for the next phase of this defense.”
She faces up to five years in prison. A date for her sentencing has not been set.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche cheered the verdict on X, declaring that nobody — not even judges — is above the law.
Today, a federal jury of her peers found her guilty and sent a clear message: the American people respect law and order. Nobody is above the law,” Blanche wrote.
“This Department will not tolerate obstruction, will enforce federal immigration law, and will hold criminals to account – even those who wear robes.”
Flores-Ruiz, 30, faced Judge Dugan on April 18 on three misdemeanor charges after allegedly pummeling a man with more than 30 punches during a March 12 fight over loud music, according to a criminal complaint obtained by The Post.
The Mexican national, previously deported from the US in 2013 and free on a signature bond at the time, also allegedly struck a woman who tried to intervene during the altercation.
However, when Dugan learned that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were in the courthouse looking for Flores-Ruiz, she left the bench “visibly angry” to confront the federal agents.
Dugan then ordered officers out if they weren’t there for court, then sent federal agents away from her courtroom to Chief Judge Carl Ashley’s office after seeing Flores-Ruiz’s immigration warrant, prosecutors said.
After Dugan went back inside, a courtroom deputy told federal agents he hadn’t tipped her off and claimed she was “pushing” Flores-Ruiz’s case through.
When Flores-Ruiz’s appearance wrapped up, Dugan was heard saying, “Wait, come with me,” before ushering him and his attorney out through the courtroom’s jury door to a non-public area of the courthouse.
Flores-Ruiz made it out of the courthouse but was ultimately apprehended outside during a foot chase.
https://nypost.com/2025/12/19/us-news/judge-hannah-dugan-guilty-of-obstructing-ice-agents-when-she-helped-illegal-migrant-evade-arrest-jury/
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