A Wisconsin judge accused of helping a Mexican immigrant evade federal immigration agents has been found guilty of obstruction. Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County circuit judge, was convicted by a jury on Thursday after six hours of deliberation. She was acquitted on a separate charge of concealing an individual to prevent arrest.
The case stems from an incident last year when Dugan allegedly misled US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who were attempting to arrest Eduardo Flores Ruiz at her courthouse. According to court filings, Dugan falsely told the agents their administrative warrant was insufficient and directed them to the chief judge's office. She then arranged for Flores Ruiz to leave through a private jury door, leading to a brief chase before his arrest.
Prosecutors argued that Dugan put her personal beliefs above the law, while her defence maintained she was following courthouse protocols. Audio recordings played at trial captured Dugan telling her court reporter she would take 'the heat' for her actions. The Trump administration had labelled Dugan an 'activist judge', but the US attorney denied the case was political.
Dugan faces up to five years in prison for the obstruction conviction. She has been suspended from her judicial role since April, and the Wisconsin constitution bars convicted felons from holding office. Her legal team plans to appeal, and advocacy groups have called for a review of constitutional questions raised by the case.
