Wisconsin Supreme Court Temporarily Suspends Judge Hannah Dugan from Official Duties
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has issued an administrative order temporarily suspending Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan from her judicial responsibilities.
According to the order released Tuesday, Dugan is “temporarily prohibited from exercising the powers of a circuit court judge in the State of Wisconsin” following her arrest last Friday. The order will remain effective “until further order of the court.”
Dugan was taken into custody and charged with obstruction of an official proceeding after authorities accused her of hiding an undocumented immigrant from federal agents, per a criminal complaint. As reported by Fox News, she is also facing charges for allegedly concealing an individual to avoid law enforcement detection.
The Wisconsin Court System confirmed to Fox News that Judge Dugan will not return to the bench this week and that her caseload will be reassigned to other judges in the interim.
Dugan is scheduled for a federal court appearance on May 15, where she will face charges of obstructing a federal agency and a misdemeanor count related to hiding someone to help them avoid arrest.
On Friday, the FBI detained Dugan over allegations that she harbored a previously deported Mexican national, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, in a jury room to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from arresting him.
According to the complaint, Flores-Ruiz had appeared before Dugan in court on April 18 regarding three misdemeanor battery charges involving two alleged victims. After the hearing, Dugan reportedly directed police officers to the chief judge’s office and escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a secure jury exit—avoiding the public area where federal agents were waiting.
During her brief court appearance in Milwaukee on Friday, Dugan did not speak publicly, as noted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Her lawyer, Craig Mastantuono, stated: “Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety.”
Dugan has denied the local allegations that she attempted to shield Flores-Ruiz from ICE. Responding to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last Tuesday, she said, “Nearly every fact regarding the ‘tips’ in your email is inaccurate.”
On Fox’s America Reports, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi strongly criticized Dugan’s alleged conduct.
“We could not believe that a judge really did that,” Bondi said. “You cannot obstruct a criminal case. And really, shame on her. It was a domestic violence case of all cases, and she’s protecting a criminal defendant over victims of crime.”
Bondi further claimed that Flores-Ruiz violently assaulted two individuals. “[He] beat the guy, hit the guy 30 times, knocked him to the ground, choked him, beat up a woman so badly; they both had to go to the hospital,” she said.
Following reports of the arrest—highlighted by FBI Director Kash Patel—some Democratic voices responded with outrage, particularly over how the situation was handled.
Circuit Judge Monica Isham issued a statement saying she would no longer preside over cases, citing safety concerns for herself and her staff if faced with decisions similar to those Dugan allegedly made.
“Yesterday, Judge Hannah Dugan of Milwaukee County stood on her Oath in the very building she swore to uphold it and she was arrested and charged with felonies for it. Enough is enough,” she stated.
“I have no intention of allowing anyone to be taken out of my courtroom by ICE and sent to a concentration camp, especially without due process as BOTH of the constitutions we swore to support requires. Should I start raising bail money?” Isham added.
“I will not put myself or my staff who may feel compelled to help me or my community in harms [sic] way,” she concluded.