Immigration Law
Former judge convicted over ICE obstruction denied new trial
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan (far left) leaves the federal courthouse after a hearing in Milwaukee on May 15, 2025. (Photo by Andy Manis/The Associated Press)
A federal judge on Monday refused a former Wisconsin judge’s bid for acquittal or a new trial following her conviction for helping shield a defendant in her courtroom from arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was convicted in December for helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz avoid arrest by federal agents when he appeared on misdemeanor domestic violence charges.
Dugan’s main argument post-conviction was that she committed no crime because ICE arrests in courthouses violate the common law privilege against the execution of civil process or civil arrest warrants on a party appearing in a courthouse.
According to the April 6 order by U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman of the Eastern District of Wisconsin, if there was such a privilege in this case, it would belong to Flores-Ruiz and not Dugan.
“Defendant cites no authority that she may assert the privilege derivatively to avoid criminal liability for obstructing Flores-Ruiz’s arrest,” Adelman wrote in the order.
The order also states that Dugan waived the argument by failing to raise it through a pretrial motion.
Dugan resigned from her position in January.
Law360 also had coverage.
See also:
Prosecutor says judge knew she would get ‘heat’ for aiding immigrant
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