Wisconsin Judge Who Helped Illegal Alien Escape ICE Learns Fate

A federal judge has ruled that the conviction of former Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan will stand after a jury found she obstructed federal immigration enforcement officers attempting to carry out an arrest outside her courtroom.

In a decision issued Monday, U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman rejected Dugan’s post-trial request to overturn the verdict or grant a new trial.

Adelman concluded that the evidence presented during the December trial provided sufficient grounds for jurors to determine that Dugan intentionally interfered with agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Jury Convicted Judge on Obstruction Charge

Following a weeklong trial late last year, the jury found Dugan guilty of felony obstruction of federal officers. She was acquitted of a separate charge accusing her of concealing an individual facing deportation, according to reporting from Courthouse News Service.

In January, Dugan filed a motion asking the court to set aside the conviction, arguing that several aspects of the case—including the validity of the administrative warrant, the jury instructions, and the interpretation of the obstruction statute—were flawed.

She also maintained that her conduct fell within the scope of her authority to manage proceedings in her courtroom.

But Judge Adelman dismissed those arguments in a 39-page ruling, stating that a judge’s professional role does not grant immunity from criminal prosecution when federal law is violated.

“As I noted in denying the motion to dismiss, there was no basis for granting immunity simply because the indictment described conduct that could be considered ‘part of a judge’s job,’” Adelman wrote.

Incident Stemmed From April 2025 Court Appearance

According to evidence presented at trial, the incident occurred on April 18, 2025, when Dugan learned that ICE officers were waiting outside her courtroom to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who had been scheduled to appear before her.

Prosecutors said Dugan attempted to interfere with the arrest by coordinating with fellow judge Kristela Cervera and directing officers to consult with Chief Judge Carl Ashley regarding an administrative warrant.

While the officers were diverted, Dugan allegedly called Flores-Ruiz’s case, quickly rescheduled the matter, and instructed the individual and his attorney to exit through a jury door leading to a private hallway.

They eventually emerged into a public corridor where ICE agents were waiting.

Judge’s Intent Became Key Issue

Dugan has repeatedly denied that she intended to help the individual avoid arrest, claiming she had not reviewed the warrant and did not know Flores-Ruiz’s identity at the time.

However, jurors during deliberations asked whether prosecutors were required to prove that she knew the individual’s name in order to establish obstruction.

Judge Adelman instructed them that such knowledge was not required, a ruling Dugan later challenged in her motion for a new trial.

In his decision, Adelman compared the issue to firearm possession cases.

“By way of analogy, in felony possession prosecutions the government typically identifies the firearm by make, model and serial number,” Adelman wrote. “But no one would argue the government is therefore required to prove the defendant knew the gun’s serial number.”

Defense Argument on Judicial Authority Rejected

Dugan also argued that the individual appearing in court was protected from civil arrest while attending a judicial proceeding and that she was acting to uphold those protections.

Adelman rejected that claim as well, concluding that Dugan had not demonstrated she possessed the authority to assert such a privilege in the circumstances presented.

The ruling states that a judge cannot avoid criminal liability simply by asserting that her actions were taken on behalf of the court.

Statements After Incident Undermined Defense

Evidence introduced at trial also included audio recordings from the courtroom that prosecutors argued demonstrated Dugan’s intent.

According to the recordings, she told a clerk shortly after the incident, “I’ll do it. I’ll take the heat.”

She also reportedly told Cervera she was “in the doghouse” with the chief judge because she “tried to help that guy.”

Those statements, the court found, helped reinforce the prosecution’s argument that Dugan knowingly interfered with federal officers attempting to carry out their duties.

With the post-trial motion denied, Dugan’s conviction remains intact, leaving any further challenge to the appeals process.