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A federal jury found Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstructing federal immigration agents during an incident at the courthouse in April. The jury delivered the verdict after six hours of deliberation on Thursday (December 18). Judge Dugan faces up to five years in prison on the felony obstruction charge. However, she was acquitted of a misdemeanor charge of concealing an individual to prevent arrest.
The case arose when federal agents attempted to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant, at the courthouse where he was appearing on misdemeanor battery charges. Dugan allegedly confronted the agents, questioned the validity of their warrant, and directed them to the chief judge's office. During this time, she expedited Flores-Ruiz's case and allowed him to exit through a private door, leading to his brief evasion of arrest.
Prosecutors argued that Dugan's actions were an attempt to help Flores-Ruiz evade capture, while her defense claimed confusion over courthouse immigration enforcement policies. The defense portrayed the case as an example of government overreach, arguing that the federal government aimed to make an example of Dugan to deter judicial opposition to immigration enforcement.
U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel emphasized that the case was not political but about enforcing the law equally. Meanwhile, Dugan's attorney expressed disappointment with the verdict, questioning the jury's decision to convict on one charge but not the other.