Judge Dugan Fined $5K for Obstructing ICE Arrest

Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan, 67, was fined $5,000 on Wednesday for obstructing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents attempting to arrest an immigrant in her courtroom. She avoided prison time despite facing up to five years behind bars.

The judge, who resigned from her Milwaukee County circuit judgeship in January amid threats of impeachment, was convicted of felony obstruction in December for ushering a Mexican defendant out of her courtroom to evade ICE agents. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman cited Dugan's otherwise law-abiding life in his sentencing decision.

Prosecutors argued that Dugan violated her oath as a judge and put both law enforcement and the public at risk. They stated that judges are entrusted with tremendous discretion but cannot choose to disregard the law. However, Adelman noted that Dugan's actions did not stop ICE agents from arresting the defendant outside the courthouse.

Dugan's attorneys argued that she had been 'punished enough,' including resigning as a judge and facing threats of violence. They also plan to file an appeal against her conviction. The case marked the first time a state judge in Wisconsin went to trial on charges of obstructing immigration agents.

During sentencing, Adelman stated that Dugan's actions were 'a few minutes of conduct for someone who has dedicated her life to public service' and represented 'a marked deviation from an otherwise law-abiding life.' He also noted that Dugan had experienced threats that forced her to move and stop attending community events. Two Marquette University law professors, including a former state Supreme Court justice and a Jesuit priest, spoke on Dugan's behalf.

Dugan addressed the court, stating she was trying to maintain 'the decorum and safety of the courtroom' when she ushered the defendant out. She mentioned being cast as both a scofflaw and a hero but identified herself as neither, merely a public servant attempting to do her job.

At the heart of the case was an incident at the Milwaukee County Court in April 2025, when ICE agents arrived to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz. Flores-Ruiz had re-entered the United States illegally a few days after being deported in 2013 and was set to appear in court for misdemeanor battery charges stemming from a fight with his roommate.

When the agents arrived at the court, prosecutors said Dugan directed them to the chief judge’s office, telling them their administrative warrant was not sufficient grounds to arrest Flores-Ruiz. When they left, Dugan led Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer out through a private jury door. Agents saw him and caught him outside the court after briefly chasing him on foot.

Federal prosecutors had argued that sentencing guidelines called for between 15 and 21 months in prison, saying Dugan had 'used the power and prestige of judicial office to obstruct federal agents carrying out their lawful duties in order to help an individual evade arrest.' They said a serious sentence was needed to reflect the broader impact on the justice system.

Dugan’s lawyers argued that it had been an isolated incident. They stated she had already paid a steep price, saying she was 'handcuffed and shackled during her arrest, photographed publicly by plan, and intentionally shamed from coast to coast by the leadership of the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI.' Among those officials was FBI Director Kash Patel, who posted a photo of Dugan in handcuffs after her arrest with the caption: 'No one is above the law.' Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany, an ally of President Donald Trump and running for Wisconsin governor, also urged authorities to 'lock her up'.

Dugan’s lawyers accused the Trump administration of trying to 'crush' her to ensure judicial compliance with its strategy of arresting immigrants inside courts. Critics have similarly said prosecutors were using the case to send a message to judges and other local officials who might resist its immigration enforcement policies.