The Wisconsin Supreme Court has temporarily suspended Judge Hannah Dugan from her duties, following serious allegations of obstructing justice. The suspension comes after Dugan was charged with two federal counts related to helping an undocumented immigrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, avoid arrest by federal immigration authorities. This case has garnered significant attention, as it highlights the intersection of judicial responsibility and federal immigration enforcement.
Background on the Case and Suspension
Judge Hannah Dugan, a 65-year-old Milwaukee County Circuit Judge, was charged on April 25, 2025, with two federal offences: obstructing a U.S. agency and concealing an individual to prevent an arrest. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on April 18, 2025, when Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican immigrant, appeared in her courtroom for a pretrial conference. Following his court appearance, federal immigration authorities were waiting outside the courtroom to arrest him.
According to federal authorities, Dugan is accused of escorting Flores-Ruiz and his public defender out of the courtroom through a side door, preventing immigration agents from apprehending him. Despite her efforts, federal agents later managed to arrest Flores-Ruiz after a brief foot chase outside the courthouse.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court acted swiftly in suspending Dugan from her judicial duties, stating that the decision was made to maintain public confidence in the court system during the ongoing criminal proceedings.
The suspension, effective from April 29, 2025, prevents Dugan from performing her judicial responsibilities “until further order of the court.” The court emphasised that this action was administrative, not disciplinary, and that it would continue to pay Dugan her annual salary of $174,512 while she remains on leave.
Legal and Public Reactions
Judge Dugan’s legal team expressed their disappointment with the court’s decision, criticising the suspension as a unilateral action. They reaffirmed Dugan’s innocence, asserting that they were confident in her eventual vindication in court. “We continue to assert Judge Dugan’s innocence and look forward to her vindication in court,” the legal team said in a statement.
However, the situation has led to a division among political leaders and the public. While Republicans have called for Dugan’s removal from office, many Democrats have rallied behind her, denouncing the arrest as part of a broader trend of aggressive immigration enforcement.
Protests erupted in Milwaukee in the days following Dugan’s arrest, with demonstrators criticising the federal government’s handling of the case. On April 25, 2025, more than 200 people gathered outside the FBI Field Office in St. Francis to voice their opposition to the arrest of Dugan, as well as the detention of immigrants in courthouses across the country.
The Incident: A Closer Look at the Allegations
The charges against Judge Dugan stem from an incident that occurred on April 18, 2025, when Eduardo Flores-Ruiz appeared before her for a pre-trial conference. Flores-Ruiz, 30, had been deported from the U.S. in 2013 and was living in the country illegally. On April 17, 2025, federal authorities obtained an arrest warrant for him based on biometric fingerprint comparisons.
On the day of his court appearance, federal agents, six members of the Milwaukee ICE task force, went to the courthouse in plain clothes to arrest Flores-Ruiz. According to the criminal complaint, the agents informed Dugan’s courtroom staff of their intention to arrest Flores-Ruiz after his court appearance. The agents agreed to wait in the hallway until after his hearing, but they were informed that Flores-Ruiz was seen getting on an elevator with his public defender.
In an unexpected twist, Dugan allegedly escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out of the courtroom via a side door, in what prosecutors claim was an attempt to prevent them from encountering federal immigration authorities in the hallway. Despite her efforts, Flores-Ruiz was apprehended after a brief foot chase outside the courthouse. Authorities later charged him with illegal re-entry into the United States, a serious offence carrying significant penalties.
The Legal Charges and Potential Consequences
The criminal charges against Judge Dugan include one felony charge and one misdemeanour charge. The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of six years in prison, while the misdemeanour charge carries a possible penalty of one year in jail. Together, the charges could result in up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $350,000. However, sentences in cases involving nonviolent offences, such as this one, are typically much shorter than the maximum allowed by law.
Dugan’s arrest comes at a time when the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration is intensifying. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been actively arresting undocumented immigrants, even inside courthouses. Dugan’s arrest marks at least the third such incident in recent months, as federal authorities seek to enforce immigration laws more aggressively, even in judicial buildings.
The political ramifications of this case have been significant, with sharp divisions emerging between those who support the federal government’s stance on immigration enforcement and those who believe the judiciary should be insulated from such policies. Republican officials have been quick to praise the arrest, calling it a victory in the fight against illegal immigration. At the same time, many Democratic politicians and activists have criticised the action as an overreach by federal authorities.
A Comparison to Judge Shelley Joseph
Dugan’s case has drawn comparisons to that of Massachusetts state District Court Judge Shelley Joseph, who was indicted on federal charges of obstruction of justice in 2019. Joseph was accused of helping an undocumented immigrant evade ICE agents in her courtroom. In that case, federal prosecutors dropped the charges in 2022, and Joseph was reinstated to her position a year later.
Like Judge Joseph, Dugan’s case highlights the challenges judges face when balancing their judicial responsibilities with the increasingly strict enforcement of immigration laws. These cases have sparked broader debates about the role of the judiciary in upholding or challenging immigration policies, especially when such policies conflict with the rights of individuals who appear before the courts.
The Fate of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz
Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, the man at the centre of this controversy, faces significant legal challenges as well. He was arrested and charged with illegal re-entry into the United States after his attempted escape from federal agents. Flores-Ruiz was initially detained at the Dodge Detention Facility in Juneau but was later transferred to the Ozaukee County Jail in Port Washington. In addition to the charge of illegal re-entry, Flores-Ruiz is also facing three misdemeanour counts of domestic battery, which carry potential jail time and fines.
The Road Ahead for Judge Dugan
As Judge Dugan’s legal team prepares for her defence in court, it is clear that this case will continue to generate controversy. With the eyes of the public and political leaders focused on this high-profile case, the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to suspend Dugan is likely to have far-reaching implications for how future cases involving judicial involvement in immigration enforcement are handled.
For now, Dugan remains suspended from her duties as a judge, and her fate will be determined through the legal process. As the case unfolds, it will likely continue to spark debate about the proper role of the judiciary in the age of aggressive immigration enforcement and the complex ethical questions that arise when judges must navigate these issues.
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