Former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, 67, is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday in federal court following her conviction on felony obstruction charges. The case stemmed from an incident in April 2025 where Dugan allegedly assisted an undocumented immigrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, in evading federal immigration officers.
Dugan was convicted by a jury on December 19 and faces a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. Two weeks after her conviction, she resigned from her judicial position, which she had held for nine years. The conviction came amid threats of impeachment from Republican state lawmakers.
The case gained national attention as a flashpoint in the conflict between the judiciary and the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies. Prosecutors argued that Dugan, by intervening in the arrest attempt, violated her oath and endangered law enforcement and the public. Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling stated in a sentencing memo that Dugan "crossed that line."
Dugan's attorneys had argued that she was immune from prosecution due to her judicial role and that the Trump administration was attempting to make an example of her. They contended that she had already been sufficiently punished through her resignation and facing threats of violence, arguing she should not serve additional jail time beyond the one day already spent in federal custody. The presentence report suggests a sentence of 15 to 21 months, though the judge is not bound by these guidelines.
On April 18, 2025, immigration officers arrived at the Milwaukee County courthouse seeking to arrest Flores-Ruiz, who had reentered the country illegally and was scheduled for a hearing in a state battery case. Dugan reportedly confronted the agents outside her courtroom, questioning the validity of their administrative warrant and directing them to the chief judge's office. Following this interaction, she allegedly led Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out through a private jury door. Agents then located Flores-Ruiz in the corridor, pursued him outside, and arrested him after a foot chase. Dugan was arrested by FBI agents at the courthouse a week later.
Flores-Ruiz was deported in November. Dugan was found not guilty of a misdemeanor charge of concealing an individual to prevent arrest. Her attorneys have stated their intention to file an appeal regardless of the sentencing outcome.
Dugan's case is reportedly the first instance of a state judge in Wisconsin going to trial on charges of obstructing immigration agents.