Milwaukee -- The federal trial is set to start today for a Wisconsin judge accused of concealing an undocumented man to prevent his arrest by immigration authorities.
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was charged in a two-count federal indictment that alleges she obstructed official Department of Homeland Security removal proceedings and knowingly concealed the man from immigration authorities at a courthouse in April.
She has pleaded not guilty.
The 12-member jury will consider whether the steps taken by Dugan on April 18th, to control her courtroom earlier this year amounted to a felony and a misdemeanor.
Dugan was presiding over the domestic violence case of an undocumented immigrant named Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, and she demanded to know whether the agents had a judge-signed warrant to arrest the defendant. Agents responded that they only had an administrative warrant, and Dugan referred them to the court’s chief judge for further legal advice.
Prosecutors say that Dugan steered Flores-Ruiz through a “jury door” to evade arrest and seemed visibly angry. Bhannah ut agents saw Flores-Ruiz standing with his attorney later in a public hallway. It’s undisputed that a DHS agent shared an elevator with Flores-Ruiz, who was later apprehended by federal agents outside the courthouse following a “foot chase.” Flores-Ruiz was deported last month.
The court will decide if Dugan obstructed federal agents and tried to conceal an individual to prevent his arrest, but the national conversation surrounding the trial will grapple with far weightier questions. Prosecutors have told the court they expect to have 25 to 28 witnesses.
The court will decide if Dugan obstructed federal agents and tried to conceal an individual to prevent his arrest, but the national conversation surrounding the trial will grapple with far weightier questions. Prosecutors have told the court they expect to have 25 to 28 witnesses.
Per federal prosecutors, Dugan encountered federal agents who were at the Milwaukee County Circuit Court on April 18 to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who was appearing in her courtroom on a battery charge.
Dugan could face up to six years in prison if convicted as charged.
Dugan could face up to six years in prison if convicted as charged.
UPDATE
Hannah Dugan was found guilty of felony obstruction for helping an undocumented immigrant evade federal agents during an arrest operation at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. She was convicted by a jury in December 2025 and subsequently resigned from her position as a judge.
On April 6, 2026 U.S. District Court Judge Lynn Adelman ruled against Dugan’s appeal in a 39-page order. He also again rejected a claim that she was immune from prosecution because her actions were taken while she served as a judge.
Dugan’s legal team indicated in a statement that they plan to appeal Adelman’s ruling. That appeal will take that case to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
“We continue to maintain that Hannah Dugan acted lawfully and within her independent authority as a judge,” Dugan’s attorneys stated. “The inconsistent jury verdicts demonstrate that the trial proceedings were flawed, and we plan to appeal.”
A date for sentencing Dugan has not yet been set.
On April 6, 2026 U.S. District Court Judge Lynn Adelman ruled against Dugan’s appeal in a 39-page order. He also again rejected a claim that she was immune from prosecution because her actions were taken while she served as a judge.
Dugan’s legal team indicated in a statement that they plan to appeal Adelman’s ruling. That appeal will take that case to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
“We continue to maintain that Hannah Dugan acted lawfully and within her independent authority as a judge,” Dugan’s attorneys stated. “The inconsistent jury verdicts demonstrate that the trial proceedings were flawed, and we plan to appeal.”
A date for sentencing Dugan has not yet been set.