Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan, 67, is scheduled to be sentenced after being convicted of felony obstruction for her role in helping immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz evade federal officers. This case, which occurred on April 18, 2025, marked the first time a state judge in Wisconsin went to trial on charges of obstructing immigration agents. Dugan resigned from her position as a Milwaukee County circuit judge two weeks after her December 19 conviction, following threats of impeachment from Republican state lawmakers. She had served as a judge for nine years.
The incident unfolded when immigration officers went to the Milwaukee County courthouse to arrest Flores-Ruiz, who had re-entered the country illegally. Dugan confronted the agents, directing them to the chief judge's office, arguing their administrative warrant was insufficient. After the agents left, Dugan led Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a private jury door. Although agents eventually arrested Flores-Ruiz after a foot chase, FBI agents later arrested Dugan in the courthouse and she was charged. Flores-Ruiz was deported in November.
Dugan faces up to five years in prison, though federal sentencing guidelines suggest a range of 15 to 21 months. Prosecutors did not recommend a specific sentence, but asserted Dugan violated her oath and endangered law enforcement and the public. Dugan's attorneys argued she had been "punished enough," citing her resignation and threats of violence, and suggested no additional jail time beyond the one day she already served. They also intend to appeal the conviction. The case gained national attention as a bellwether in the conflict between the judiciary and the Trump administration's immigration policies, with the administration and its allies branding Dugan an "activist judge."
