{"id":28272,"date":"2025-12-27T08:17:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-27T08:17:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/?p=28272"},"modified":"2025-12-27T08:17:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-27T08:17:43","slug":"judge-found-guilty-of-obstructing-ice-agents-at-wisconsin-courthouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/?p=28272","title":{"rendered":"Judge Found Guilty Of Obstructing ICE Agents At Wisconsin Courthouse"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A federal jury found Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstructing federal immigration agents during an attempt to serve an arrest warrant at a courthouse earlier this year. Dugan was convicted on a felony obstruction charge but acquitted on a separate misdemeanor count of concealing an individual to prevent arrest.<\/p>\n

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The verdict followed approximately six hours of jury deliberations in federal court in Milwaukee, Fox News\u00a0reported<\/a>. Dugan now faces up to five years in prison on the felony charge, though a sentencing date has not yet been set.<\/p>\n

The case stems from an April 18 incident involving Eduardo Flores Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant who was scheduled to appear in Dugan\u2019s courtroom on an unrelated misdemeanor domestic assault charge.<\/p>\n

Federal prosecutors said Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were present in the courthouse that day to arrest Flores Ruiz on an immigration warrant for illegal reentry into the United States.<\/p>\n

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According to court filings and trial testimony, Dugan became aware that plainclothes ICE agents were inside the building and attempting to locate Flores Ruiz.<\/p>\n

Prosecutors alleged that Dugan confronted the agents in a hallway outside her courtroom, questioned the legitimacy of their warrant, and told them to speak with the chief judge before proceeding.<\/p>\n

The government argued that this interaction delayed the agents and interfered with their efforts to carry out the arrest.<\/p>\n

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Prosecutors further alleged that after the hallway encounter, Dugan informed Flores Ruiz\u2019s attorney of the ICE presence and helped the attorney and defendant exit the courtroom through a private back door normally reserved for jurors.<\/p>\n

Flores Ruiz was later spotted by agents inside the courthouse and arrested outside the building following a brief foot pursuit.<\/p>\n

He was subsequently deported after pleading guilty to illegally reentering the United States and resolving the underlying misdemeanor charge.<\/p>\n

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During the trial, Dugan\u2019s defense team argued that she was acting within her judicial role and following courthouse protocols, not intentionally obstructing law enforcement.<\/p>\n

Defense attorneys claimed Dugan was attempting to maintain courtroom order and ensure the safety of those present, not shield Flores Ruiz from arrest.<\/p>\n

The jury ultimately rejected that argument on the felony obstruction count while acquitting her on the concealment charge.<\/p>\n

In a statement following the verdict, Dugan\u2019s defense team said it was disappointed by the outcome but emphasized that prosecutors failed to secure convictions on all counts.<\/p>\n

The defense said it plans to pursue post trial motions and an appeal, calling the verdict an early stage in a longer legal fight.<\/p>\n

Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Brad Schimel said the case should not be viewed as political or symbolic.<\/p>\n

Schimel said Dugan was neither a villain nor a martyr and described the case as a routine criminal matter that should be accepted peacefully.<\/p>\n

He also said prosecutors were not trying to make an example of a judge but were enforcing the law as they would in any other case.<\/p>\n

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Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reacted to the verdict by saying Dugan betrayed her oath and the public trust.<\/p>\n

Blanche said the verdict sent a clear message that no one is above the law, including public officials and members of the judiciary.<\/p>\n

Dugan was arrested by the FBI in April and released on her own recognizance shortly afterward.<\/p>\n

Later that month, the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended her with pay pending the outcome of the criminal case.<\/p>\n

At the time of her suspension, Dugan was earning an annual salary of approximately $175,000. Under Wisconsin law, a felony conviction makes an individual ineligible to hold public office, meaning Dugan can no longer serve as a judge.<\/p>\n

It remains unclear whether the Wisconsin Supreme Court will take additional disciplinary action while the appeals process moves forward, reports said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n