MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Diya TV) — A federal grand jury has indicted Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on charges of obstruction of justice and concealing a person from arrest after she allegedly helped an undocumented immigrant evade federal agents during a court appearance.
The indictment, announced Tuesday evening at the federal courthouse in Milwaukee, follows initial charges filed in April and allows the case to proceed to trial. Judge Dugan, a sitting circuit judge since 2016, is accused of assisting 42-year-old Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national previously deported in 2013, in avoiding arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to the Department of Justice, the incident occurred on April 18 during a hearing related to a domestic abuse case in which Flores-Ruiz was the defendant. Flores-Ruiz was free on bond at the time. Federal agents were reportedly stationed outside the courtroom, waiting to take him into custody following the hearing.
The Associated Press reports that Dugan learned about the presence of ICE agents from her courtroom clerk. According to witnesses, she appeared visibly angry, described the situation as “absurd,” and left the bench to confront the agents. Witnesses described her demeanor as “confrontational” and “angry.” She allegedly instructed the ICE officers to speak with the courthouse’s chief judge before returning to her courtroom.
Rather than allowing the agents to detain Flores-Ruiz through the usual process, Dugan reportedly escorted the defendant and his attorney through a restricted jury door typically reserved for court personnel, jurors, and deputies. Flores-Ruiz was eventually apprehended by ICE following a brief foot chase outside the courthouse. According to the FBI, there is no record of Flores-Ruiz being granted legal reentry into the United States after his 2013 removal.
Dugan was arrested in late April and formally charged with obstructing justice and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. If convicted, she faces up to six years in federal prison. Her plea hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
In response to her arrest, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a temporary suspension, stating it was necessary “in the public interest” to preserve public confidence in the judiciary.
Judge Dugan’s defense team maintains her innocence. In a statement quoted by Axios, her attorneys said, “Judge Dugan asserts her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court,” adding that she has “committed herself to the rule of law and the principles of due process for her entire career.”
The case has drawn national attention and sparked political controversy. Trump-era Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has continued to comment on legal matters through conservative outlets, defended the indictment. “It doesn’t matter what line of work you are in—if you break the law, we will follow the facts and we will prosecute you,” she told.
Critics, however, claim the prosecution is politically motivated. A coalition of more than 150 former judges signed an open letter condemning what they describe as an attempt to intimidate members of the judiciary. The letter warns the case could “undermine the rule of law” and “erode public trust in the independence of the courts.”
As the case heads to court, it has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration enforcement, judicial independence, and the responsibilities of local officials in cooperating with federal agencies.
