The arrest of Hannah Dugan, a well-known Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, on federal accusations of obstruction of justice and hiding a suspect from arrest has put her in grave legal danger. During a court session, the veteran judge is accused of helping a Mexican national elude federal immigration officers.

Hannah Dugan is who?

For many years, Hannah Dugan, 65, has been a well-respected member of Milwaukee’s civic and legal circles. She defeated a Republican appointee to win a Milwaukee County judgeship in 2016 and was re-elected without opposition in 2022. She is expected to remain in office until 2028. Prior to her appointment as a judge, Dugan worked as a litigation lawyer at the Legal Aid Society and Legal Action of Wisconsin, where she handled cases including civil rights, elder law, disability rights, and domestic violence. She also held leadership positions, including executive director of Catholic Charities of Southeastern Wisconsin and president of the Milwaukee Bar Association. Dugan, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is well-known for her strong links to the community and her active participation in interfaith activities. She was a 2021 Best of Milwaukee nominee for Most Trusted Public Official and taught at Marquette University.

What is said to have been done by Hannah Dugan?

In a court session on April 18, Judge Hannah Dugan allegedly blocked federal authorities from apprehending Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, according to a criminal complaint. At the courtroom, ICE and federal officers arrived to arrest Flores-Ruiz, who had been deported in 2013, while he was on trial for misdemeanor violence charges.

Dugan reportedly became noticeably disturbed upon learning of the agents’ presence and made a special effort to assist Flores-Ruiz. She took him and his attorney, according to witnesses, via a restricted courtroom entrance that is often only used by jurors and in-custody suspects to avoid arrest. After a short escape, Flores-Ruiz was apprehended after a foot chase. He is now being held at the Dodge Detention Facility by ICE.

What Comes Next?

On May 15, 2025, Hannah Dugan will formally address the accusations during her second hearing. She faces a maximum sentence of six years in jail and penalties of $350,000 USD if found guilty on both counts. Craig Mastantuono, her lawyer, said that Dugan “wholeheartedly regrets and protests” her detention, saying it was needless and driven by politics. Several hundred supporters demonstrated outside the courtroom against her detention, stating that it would deter community members from participating in legal procedures. The arrest was denounced by organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin as a ruse to scare the legal system.

“If you’re obstructing justice and helping a criminal defendant escape, that will not be tolerated,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi, a prominent member of the Trump administration’s legal machinery, in favor of the action, as she told Fox News.

As the judicial proceedings progress, Hannah Dugan’s future as a judge is in jeopardy. The case is similar to one that occurred in 2019 when Judge Shelley Joseph of Massachusetts was accused of obstruction after allegedly helping an unauthorized immigrant evade ICE custody in her courtroom. Although the accusations were later dropped, the case sparked ongoing debate. In addition to placing Judge Dugan at the center of a nationally heated debate concerning judicial discretion versus federal immigration enforcement, her arrest may set a new precedent for the severity with which federal officials are willing to enforce immigration law.