By Charles Switzer
4:05am PDT, Apr 30, 2025
Arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan
UPDATE: On Tuesday, April 29 — a few days after the FBI arrested
Judge Hannah Dugan for helping an undocumented immigrant avoid ICE capture, and after Attorney General Pam Bondi called her "
deranged" — the Wisconsin Supreme Court "temporarily" relieved her of her duties and took away her judicial powers.
"In the exercise of (the) constitutional authority and in order to uphold the public's confidence in the courts of this state during the pendency of the criminal proceeding against Judge Dugan, we conclude, in our own motion, that it is in the public interest that she be temporarily relieved of her official duties," the court ordered, according to the
New York Post.
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ORIGINAL STORY: Milwaukee County Circuit Judge
Hannah Dugan did not appear on the bench on Monday, April 28, following her arrest last week on federal charges for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant evade authorities, the
New York Post reported.
Despite her arrest, Dugan continues to receive her salary.
According to a spokesperson for the Wisconsin Court System, a reserve judge was assigned to handle her calendar duties. The spokesperson also clarified that "Judge Dugan is not on administrative leave at this time," though it remains unclear how long the reserve judge will be filling in for her.
Read on to find out more about Judge Dugan's salaried leave.
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The Charges Against Dugan
Hannah Dugan faces serious charges of obstruction of justice and concealing Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant, from federal immigration authorities.
Flores-Ruiz had appeared in Dugan's courtroom on April 18 for a pre-trial hearing related to misdemeanor battery charges. Federal authorities claim that Dugan was made aware of the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the courthouse and demanded they leave.
According to the federal complaint, she hurried through Flores-Ruiz's appearance, then directed him and his attorney to exit through the courtroom's "jury door," a non-public area that is typically reserved for deputies, court staff and in-custody defendants.
The Escape and Aftermath
With Hannah Dugan's help, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz was able to successfully exit the courthouse, though he was ultimately apprehended following a foot chase after federal agents spotted him using an elevator.
Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national, had been arrested on March 14 for allegedly engaging in a violent altercation that involved him punching and choking another man during a dispute over loud music.
A woman who intervened claimed Flores-Ruiz struck her multiple times in the head during the altercation. Flores-Ruiz had previously been deported from the U.S. in 2013, though it is unclear how or when he re-entered the country.
Dugan's Scheduled Status Conference
Court records and the federal complaint suggest that Hannah Dugan quietly scheduled a status conference for May 14 in Eduardo Flores-Ruiz's case, apparently without informing prosecutors.
Reports indicate that this adds to the complexity of her case, as it raises questions about whether she deliberately attempted to delay or avoid legal proceedings in favor of the defendant.
Legal and Public Repercussions
Hannh Dugan's arrest by the
Kash Patel-led FBI has caused significant public unrest in Wisconsin, with protests erupting over the weekend.
Other judges in the state have voiced their concerns, with Circuit Judge
Monica Isham from rural Sawyer County threatening to refuse to hear cases unless there is clearer guidance and support for the judiciary.
"If there is no guidance for us and no support for us, I will refuse to hold court in Branch 2 in Sawyer County," she said.
