Bizarre News Erupts on Arrested Judge
Wisconsin Judge Arrested by the FBI Was Named a Finalist for ‘Most Trusted Public Official’
A Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, Hannah Dugan, was arrested yesterday on charges of obstruction of justice after allegedly helping an illegal immigrant evade arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Dugan was a finalist for the “Most Trusted Public Official” award in 2021, but she lost the coveted title to retired Judge Derek Mosely.
The award, which was determined by a public vote, was presented by the Shepherd Express, a local media outlet known for its liberal political stance.
Dugan was arrested after being accused of concealing Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an illegal immigrant, from ICE agents outside her courtroom. Flores-Ruiz was allegedly evading federal authorities at the time of the incident, as TTOA previously reported.
Flores-Ruiz, who was previously deported, faces accusations of assaulting someone by hitting them 30 times in a dispute over loud music.
The judge now faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on the charges of obstruction of justice and concealing the individual, per the New York Post.
Dugan began her law career at Legal Action of Wisconsin, where she provided pro bono legal assistance to those who could not afford legal representation.
She later worked for Legal Aid, defending panhandlers and arguing that restrictions on panhandling were unconstitutional.
In a 2000 interview with The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dugan described the growing intimidation her clients felt toward law enforcement and the justice system.
Dugan first ran for judge in 2012 but lost. In 2016, she ran again and won, securing a seat on the bench. She was reelected in 2022.
During her time as a judge, Dugan ruled on several high-profile cases, including a GOP-backed lawsuit against the city of Milwaukee over its get-out-the-vote initiative.
The initiative, which involved a partnership with the progressive firm GPS Impact, sparked criticism from Republicans who argued it violated political activity policies.
Dugan dismissed the lawsuit in 2023, stating that the plaintiffs had failed to present credible evidence of political campaign influence.
Dugan’s personal ambition as a judge was widely known. In a 2021 article, she expressed her goal of being photographed in front of every county courthouse in Wisconsin.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced Dugan’s arrest on Friday, stating that she had intentionally misdirected federal agents away from Flores-Ruiz after learning ICE agents were in the building.
According to a federal complaint, Dugan allegedly called for the ICE agents to leave the building and escorted Flores-Ruiz out of the courtroom through a jury door to a non-public area.
The agents later located Flores-Ruiz after a brief foot chase and arrested him. Flores-Ruiz had entered the U.S. illegally in 2013, been deported, and was accused of assaulting a person over a loud music complaint.
Dugan’s attorney, Craig Mastantuono, expressed that the judge regretted her arrest and maintained that it was not in the interest of public safety.
The judge’s arrest has sent shockwaves through the legal community and has drawn attention to the increasingly contentious relationship between the judiciary and federal immigration enforcement.
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