In brief
Federal prosecutors opened their case against Judge Hannah Dugan, who is accused of helping an undocumented immigrant evade immigration authorities during a hearing. The prosecution claims that Dugan obstructed an arrest for Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican immigrant charged with battery. The trial highlights tensions in the ongoing national debate about immigration enforcement, with implications for judicial authority and political accountability.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Federal prosecutors began their case Monday against a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a Mexican immigrant evade federal authorities.
The trial of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on obstruction and concealment charges is set to begin with opening statements from both prosecutors and defense attorneys, followed by testimony from the government's first witnesses.
The prosecution's case is predicted to last until at least Thursday, involving around two dozen witnesses. Dugan's defense team has not indicated how much time they will require for their case, leaving the timeline for jury deliberations uncertain. If found guilty on both counts, she could face up to six years in prison.
This trial sparks legal and political controversies amid President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration policy campaign. Republicans, like U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, have publicly condemned Dugan, labeling her an activist judge. In a recent tweet, Tiffany called for her imprisonment.
However, Democrats argue that the administration's actions against Dugan are intended to intimidate judges who oppose its strict immigration enforcement policies. In June, Dugan reported that her family discovered threatening flyers at their home.
According to an FBI affidavit, immigration authorities discovered that Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, aged 31, had illegally re-entered the United States in 2013. He was charged with battery in Milwaukee and was scheduled to appear in Dugan's courtroom on April 18.
When agents attempted to arrest Flores-Ruiz, Dugan’s courtroom deputy directed them to wait outside until the hearing concluded. After learning that agents were waiting, Dugan confronted them, instructing them to check with the chief judge. She then facilitated Flores-Ruiz’s escape through a back door of the courtroom.
A foot chase ensued after Flores-Ruiz exited the building, which resulted in his arrest. The Department of Homeland Security later announced he was deported after pleading no contest to the battery charges.
Prosecutors charged Dugan on April 24 with obstruction of justice and concealing an individual to avoid arrest. Shortly afterward, the state Supreme Court suspended her from the bench. Dugan’s attempts to dismiss the charges were unsuccessful, as the U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman ruled that judges are not immune to criminal prosecution.
In her defense, Dugan argues that she acted per courthouse protocols regarding immigration arrests and did not intend to impede federal agents. Recent drafts from Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley specified that immigration enforcement should be limited to public areas, directing agents to refer to supervisors.
