A federal jury convicted Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan of obstructing federal immigration agents during a courthouse incident earlier this year, a verdict that could carry a sentence of up to five years in prison. Jurors reached their decision after roughly six hours of deliberations.
The case stems from events on April 18, when plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were at the courthouse seeking to serve a warrant on Eduardo Flores-Ruiz. Prosecutors argued Dugan intervened after learning agents were in the building and helped Flores-Ruiz and his attorney leave her courtroom through a back door, temporarily avoiding agents who were attempting to take him into custody.
Dugan was found not guilty on a separate misdemeanor count accusing her of concealing someone to prevent an arrest. After the verdict, Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Brad Schimel said the case was not about making an example of anyone, but about accountability for the actions prosecutors said occurred in the courthouse. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also weighed in, calling the conviction a message that “nobody is above the law.”
The verdict carries immediate consequences beyond sentencing. Dugan had been suspended with pay by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in April, and her defense signaled plans to appeal, arguing the prosecution failed to prove she did anything wrong. Under Wisconsin law, the felony conviction also makes her ineligible to continue holding public office.