Judge Hannah Dugan, the rogue judge from Milwaukee County who was caught illegally helping an illegal alien evade ICE in her courthouse, has been found guilty by a jury of obstructing federal immigration agents as they tried to serve a warrant at the courthouse, and now faces up to five years in prison on that obstruction count.
As a reminder, the obstruction charge against Dugan stems from an incident that occurred on April 18, when ICE agents in Milwaukee, along with federal partners like DEA and Border Patrol, tried to serve an arrest warrent on an illegal alien with a nasty criminal background named Eduardo Flores-Ruiz.
Describing how she obstructed them, the DOJ alleged, “Upon learning of the agents’ presence in the hallway, Judge Dugan allegedly confronted and ordered federal agents to leave the courthouse. After being made aware of a valid immigration arrest warrant, Judge Dugan told agents that they needed a judicial warrant and demanded that they go to the Chief Judge’s office. Once the agents were no longer in the vicinity of her courtroom, Judge Dugan allegedly elected not to conduct a hearing on Flores-Ruiz’s criminal case, despite the fact that victims of his offense were present, and instead personally escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a restricted “jury door” exit not typically used by defendants or attorneys.”
Thus, by being snuck out through the back door, the illegal alien was able to avoid being taken into federal custody for a brief period. He was, however, ultimately arrested outside the courthouse after having led federal agents on a brief foot chase. Dugan was then arrested on the obstruction charge and a misdemeanor charge of concealing an individual to prevent arrest.
On Thursday, December 18, after a trial regarding both charges, jurors spent six hours deliberating over the charges and eventually reached a guilty verdict on the felony charge of obstructing federal agents trying to serve a warrant, though the jury acquitted the rogue judge on the misdemeanor count. She now faces up to five years in prison.
The rogue judge’s defense team, reacting to the jury’s decision to convict her, released a statement in which it said, “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.”
Continuing, it went on to say, “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.”
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On the other side of things, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reacted to the news with a post on X in which he said, “Former Wisconsin state judge Hannah Dugan betrayed her oath and the people she served when she obstructed federal law enforcement during an immigration enforcement operation.”
Continuing, he added, “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. This Department will not tolerate obstruction, will enforce federal immigration law, and will hold criminals to account – even those who wear robes. Thank you to the men and women who keep us safe. We will always protect you.”