Former Wisconsin judge convicted after thwarting ICE arrest issued fine, avoids prison
✓Skip to content
Former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan will not serve time in prison and instead will pay a $5,000 fine after being convicted of federal obstruction for ushering a defendant from Mexico out of her courtroom to avoid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman on Wednesday said Dugan’s conduct showed a lapse in judgment rather than a pattern of criminal behavior, citing her decades of public service and otherwise clean record when declining to impose a prison sentence.
“I think this is a situation where an otherwise good person, upset by immigration policies in this country, made a bad decision in the moment,” Adelman said.
Dugan, 67, faced up to five years in prison after she was found guilty in December. She was charged with two federal charges of obstruction and concealing an individual from arrest but was acquitted on the latter charge.
Prosecutors had pushed for a harsh sentence, arguing that she “crossed” a line with her behavior and violated her judicial oath.
But Adelman, who was appointed by former President Clinton, said incarceration was not warranted. He noted that Dugan had already faced significant consequences, including losing her judicial position, becoming a convicted felon and receiving threats that endangered her safety.
He also added that her actions did not completely thwart ICE agents’ efforts, as the defendant was ultimately apprehended outside the courtroom.
“This is a few minutes of conduct for someone who has dedicated her life to public service,” Adelman said. “It’s a marked deviation from an otherwise law-abiding life.”
Dugan addressed the court prior to her sentencing, saying she never intended to break the law and that her actions were meant to preserve “decorum and safety of the courtroom.”
“I have been cast as both a scofflaw and a hero. I am neither. I am a public servant who’s just trying to do my job,” she said.
Dugan’s conviction stemmed from an April 2025 incident, where prosecutors said she helped Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, evade federal agents in disagreement with the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Dugan’s lawyers argued that her prosecution was retaliatory and an attempt from President Trump to “crush” judges who do not comply with the administration’s immigration efforts or ICE operations.
Six ICE officers arrived at the Milwaukee courthouse after learning Flores-Ruiz, who has since been deported, was set to appear before Dugan that day on three misdemeanor counts of battery. They intended to arrest and deport him on accusations that he reentered the country illegally.
Prosecutors said Dugan instead led Flores-Ruiz out through a private door rather than the public courtroom exit and told her court reporter that she’d “get the heat” for helping him, according to courtroom audio heard by The Associated Press.
Dugan resigned from her position as a Milwaukee County Circuit judge after nine years on the bench, following a series of threats from state GOP lawmakers for her to be impeached, casting her as an activist judge.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Hill ↗
Former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan was convicted in December of federal obstruction after she escorted defendant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national, out of her Milwaukee courtroom through a private door during an April 2025 ICE operation. Flores-Ruiz was facing three misdemeanor battery charges and ICE agents had arrived to arrest him on allegations he reentered the country illegally. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman sentenced Dugan to a $5,000 fine without prison time, stating her conduct reflected poor judgment rather than criminal intent, and noting she had already suffered substantial consequences including loss of her judicial office, felony conviction, and threats to her safety. Dugan had resigned from her position as Milwaukee County Circuit judge after nine years following calls for her impeachment. Flores-Ruiz was ultimately deported. Dugan's defense characterized her prosecution as retaliatory in response to her disagreement with administration immigration policies.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Hill ↗
Skip to content
Former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan will not serve time in prison and instead will pay a $5,000 fine after being convicted of federal obstruction for ushering a defendant from Mexico out of her courtroom to avoid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman on Wednesday said Dugan’s conduct showed a lapse in judgment rather than a pattern of criminal behavior, citing her decades of public service and otherwise clean record when declining to impose a prison sentence.
“I think this is a situation where an otherwise good person, upset by immigration policies in this country, made a bad decision in the moment,” Adelman said.
Dugan, 67, faced up to five years in prison after she was found guilty in December. She was charged with two federal charges of obstruction and concealing an individual from arrest but was acquitted on the latter charge.
Prosecutors had pushed for a harsh sentence, arguing that she “crossed” a line with her behavior and violated her judicial oath.
But Adelman, who was appointed by former President Clinton, said incarceration was not warranted. He noted that Dugan had already faced significant consequences, including losing her judicial position, becoming a convicted felon and receiving threats that endangered her safety.
He also added that her actions did not completely thwart ICE agents’ efforts, as the defendant was ultimately apprehended outside the courtroom.
“This is a few minutes of conduct for someone who has dedicated her life to public service,” Adelman said. “It’s a marked deviation from an otherwise law-abiding life.”
Dugan addressed the court prior to her sentencing, saying she never intended to break the law and that her actions were meant to preserve “decorum and safety of the courtroom.”
“I have been cast as both a scofflaw and a hero. I am neither. I am a public servant who’s just trying to do my job,” she said.
Dugan’s conviction stemmed from an April 2025 incident, where prosecutors said she helped Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, evade federal agents in disagreement with the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
Dugan’s lawyers argued that her prosecution was retaliatory and an attempt from President Trump to “crush” judges who do not comply with the administration’s immigration efforts or ICE operations.
Six ICE officers arrived at the Milwaukee courthouse after learning Flores-Ruiz, who has since been deported, was set to appear before Dugan that day on three misdemeanor counts of battery. They intended to arrest and deport him on accusations that he reentered the country illegally.
Prosecutors said Dugan instead led Flores-Ruiz out through a private door rather than the public courtroom exit and told her court reporter that she’d “get the heat” for helping him, according to courtroom audio heard by The Associated Press.
Dugan resigned from her position as a Milwaukee County Circuit judge after nine years on the bench, following a series of threats from state GOP lawmakers for her to be impeached, casting her as an activist judge.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Hill ↗
Hannah Dugan, a former Wisconsin judge, was convicted of federal obstruction in December after ushering a defendant from Mexico out of her courtroom to avoid ICE agents. The incident occurred in April 2025 when Dugan escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz out through a private door rather than the public exit. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman sentenced Dugan to a $5,000 fine and declined to impose prison time, despite her facing up to five years. Dugan's conduct showed a lapse in judgment rather than a pattern of criminal behavior, according to the sentencing judge. Dugan had served nine years as a Milwaukee County Circuit judge and resigned following threats of impeachment from state GOP lawmakers. Flores-Ruiz was ultimately apprehended outside the courtroom and has since been deported. Dugan's defense argued her prosecution was retaliatory and an attempt to 'crush' judges who do not comply with the administration's immigration enforcement policies. Dugan stated her actions were intended to preserve the decorum and safety of the courtroom.
Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · The Hill ↗
- Former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan was convicted of federal obstruction after ushering a Mexican defendant out of her courtroom to avoid ICE arrest in April 2025.
- She received a $5,000 fine and avoided prison; the sentencing judge cited her decades of public service and otherwise clean record.
- Dugan resigned from her judicial position and lost her job as a result of the incident; the defendant was ultimately apprehended outside the courtroom.
- Her defense argued the prosecution was retaliatory for her stance against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies.