MILWAUKEE — Federal prosecutors are pushing for a significant prison term for former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, who was convicted of obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during a courthouse arrest last year, while her defense team argues she has already been punished enough.
Background
Dugan, 67, was found guilty in December 2025 by a federal jury on one count of obstructing or impeding a proceeding before a department or agency of the United States — a felony charge stemming from an incident at her Milwaukee courthouse in April 2025. The case centers on Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national who had been facing misdemeanor battery charges in Dugan's courtroom.
Federal prosecutors alleged that after Flores-Ruiz's domestic abuse hearing concluded, Dugan helped him leave through a jury door to evade ICE officers who were waiting to take him into custody. Prosecutors claimed she falsely told the agents they needed a judicial warrant to arrest Flores-Ruiz.
The Sentencing
With Dugan's sentencing hearing scheduled for July 8, both sides submitted detailed memos arguing their positions. Assistant U.S. Attorneys wrote that Dugan crossed an unforgivable line when she used her judicial authority to obstruct federal law enforcement.
"A serious sentence is necessary to reaffirm a foundational principle of our criminal justice system: no one is above the law, particularly those entrusted with administering it," prosecutors wrote. "Anything less risks sending the opposite message — that personal loyalties, subjective viewpoints, or self-interest can supersede legal duty."
The DOJ memo emphasized that judges may disagree with laws but cannot weaponize their positions to help individuals evade arrest. Prosecutors cited Dugan's "lack of remorse" and continued insistence that her conduct was justified as factors warranting a meaningful sentence.
Dugan's defense team pushed back forcefully, arguing the government is using her case as a cautionary tale for other judges who might resist ICE enforcement in courthouses. Her attorneys wrote that she has been subjected to "life as a recluse" since her arrest — moving out of her home due to threats and abandoning community activities including religious services.
"Hannah Dugan for nearly seven decades has been an exemplary member of this community," the defense memo stated. "There is no need for further deterrence, either specifically or generally."
Defense attorneys are requesting time served — she spent less than a day in custody following her arrest — and submitted nearly 20 letters of support from community members including former Ambassador Tom Barrett.
Key Takeaways
- Dugan was convicted in December 2025 of obstruction, facing up to five years; prosecutors noted the average sentence is 16 months
- The incident occurred April 18, 2025, when she allegedly helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz escape ICE agents through a jury door
- Prosecutors argue judges cannot use their authority to interfere with lawful federal enforcement actions
- Defense claims the DOJ is weaponizing her case to intimidate other local judges who might resist courthouse immigration arrests
What's Next
U.S. District Judge will impose sentence on July 8 in Milwaukee federal court. Dugan has indicated she will appeal her conviction to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals regardless of the outcome, having already lost a motion seeking to overturn the verdict based on an alleged common-law privilege against courthouse civil arrests.
Her defense previously argued that November 2025 case law established protections barring ICE from making deportation-related arrests inside courthouses. Prosecutors rejected this framing, stating that courthouse hallway arrests are standard practice.