Former Wisconsin judge receives $5,000 fine and avoids prison after obstructing ICE arrest
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Former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was sentenced to a $5,000 fine and probation, avoiding jail time for felony obstruction after she helped a Mexican immigrant avoid ICE custody in her courtroom.
A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced former Wisconsin Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan to a $5,000 fine and probation, sparing her from prison for a felony obstruction conviction. Dugan, 67, was found guilty of helping a Mexican defendant leave her courtroom to evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in April 2025.
U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman said Dugan’s conduct was a “bad decision in the moment” but noted her long record of public service, adding that prison was unnecessary. He highlighted that Dugan had already lost her judgeship, faced a felony conviction, and endured threats that forced her to relocate.
Prosecutors had sought a custodial sentence, arguing that Dugan violated her oath and endangered law-enforcement officers. Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling wrote that judges “cannot cross a line” and described the offense as serious. The sentencing memo cited federal guidelines recommending 15 to 21 months, though the judge was not bound by them.
During the incident, ICE agents arrived at the Milwaukee County courthouse to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who was scheduled for a hearing before Dugan. Dugan directed the agents to the chief judge’s office, then escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a private door. The agents later apprehended Flores-Ruiz outside the building, and he was deported in November.
Dugan resigned from the bench in January after facing impeachment threats from Republican lawmakers. She told the court she was trying to maintain courtroom decorum and safety, and said she had been portrayed as both a “scofflaw and a hero.” Her attorneys plan to appeal the conviction.