Former Wisconsin judge avoids prison in ICE obstruction case

A federal judge has concluded proceedings against Hannah Dugan, a retired Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, by imposing a financial penalty rather than incarceration. Dugan's case stemmed from an incident in April 2025 when Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrived at the Milwaukee County Court to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national facing misdemeanor battery charges. According to court records, Dugan directed the agents to the chief judge's office, claiming their administrative warrant was insufficient. She subsequently escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a private jury exit, though agents apprehended him outside the courthouse after a brief pursuit.

A federal jury convicted Dugan in December of obstructing a federal proceeding while acquitting her of concealing a person from arrest. Prosecutors had sought between 15 and 21 months in prison, arguing that Dugan had misused her judicial authority to impede federal law enforcement. However, US District Judge Lynn Adelman determined that her conduct represented an isolated deviation from an otherwise law-abiding career spanning decades of public service.

Dugan maintained that her actions were motivated by concern for courtroom decorum and safety rather than any intent to obstruct justice. The judge noted that she had already experienced substantial consequences, including loss of employment, a felony conviction, and threats requiring her relocation. Additionally, the judge observed that her actions ultimately did not prevent the arrest, as agents successfully apprehended Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse.