Wisconsin Judge Convicted of Obstruction for Aiding Immigrant's Evade Arrest

"...closely watched case that brought Donald Trump’s anti-immigration agenda into the spotlight..."

"...unusual case amid Trump’s immigration crackdown in the US president’s second term..."

"...The Trump administration had called Dugan an “activist judge”..."

"...Democrats said the administration was trying to make an example of Dugan..."

"...as a way of blunting opposition by many judges across the country to the White House’s multi-pronged anti-immigration agenda..."

"...Dugan’s lead attorney, on Thursday told reporters that he was disappointed with the verdict..."

"...he did not understand how the jury could have reached a split verdict since the elements of both charges were virtually the same..."

"...US attorney Brad Schimel, for the government, denied the case was political and urged people to accept the verdict peacefully..."

"...Kash Patel, the FBI director, wrote on X at the time: “We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject – an illegal alien – to evade arrest.”..."

"...On Thursday, Schimel said that arresting people like Ruiz at a courthouse was safer because people are screened for weapons and it is not unfair practice..."

"...However, it is highly unusual and has been widely condemned by critics of the Trump administration’s approach..."

"...“Some have sought to make this about a larger political battle,” Schimel said..."

"...“While this case is serious for all involved, it is ultimately about a single day, a single bad day, in a public courthouse. The defendant is certainly not evil. Nor is she a martyr for some greater cause.”..."

"...At trial, prosecutors played audio recordings from Dugan’s courtroom in which she can be heard telling her court reporter that she would take “the heat” for leading Flores Ruiz out the back..."

"...Dugan’s attorneys countered that she was trying to follow courthouse protocols that called for court employees to report any immigration agents to their supervisors and she did not intentionally try to obstruct the arrest team..."

"...Her defense attorney told the jury in closing arguments that the “top levels of government” were involved in bringing charges against Dugan..."

"...But prosecutors argued Dugan put her personal beliefs above the law..."

"...Dugan did not testify..."

"...A coalition of 13 advocacy groups, including Common Cause Wisconsin and the League of Women Voters Wisconsin, said: “Higher courts must carefully review the serious constitutional questions this case raises about due process, judicial authority, and federal overreach.”..."

"...Dugan was suspended as a judge after she was charged and the Wisconsin constitution bars convicted felons from holding office..."

"...The Wisconsin judicial commission, which oversees disciplining of judges in the state, did not respond to a request on Friday from the Associated Press for information about what happens next in Dugan’s case..."