Latest news with #Dugan
New York Post
21 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Wisconsin judge claims ‘absolute immunity,' calls DOJ indictment an ‘ugly innovation'
The legal team representing a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities recently expanded their motion to dismiss the case. Judge Hannah Dugan's attorneys say that she is entitled to judicial immunity for her official acts and that the federal government overstepped its authority by arresting and charging her. Additionally, the legal team asserts in its memo that the charges violate the Constitution's Tenth Amendment and the principle of separation of powers. They further argue that Dugan can be charged for conduct that is 'wholly unrelated' to her duties as a judge, such as taking bribes or violating someone's constitutional rights. Dugan is not accused of doing either of those things in this case. 'The indictment itself is an ugly innovation. Its dismissal will not be,' Dugan's attorneys write in the memo. The Wisconsin judge is accused of helping illegal immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz evade plainclothes ICE agents who were allegedly attempting to serve him a warrant. A federal indictment claims Dugan 'falsely' told the agents that they needed a judicial warrant and directed them to go to the chief judge's office. Dugan then addressed the case off the record instead of holding the scheduled hearing. Flores-Ruiz faces three misdemeanor battery charges. Despite Dugan's efforts, Flores-Ruiz was arrested. 3 Judge Hannah Dugan poses for a photo in Milwaukee in 2016. AP 3 Supporters of Judge Hannah Dugan protest outside the United States Federal Building and Courthouse in Milwaukee, Wis. on Thursday, May 15, 2025 ahead of Dugan's arraignment. AP The Department of Homeland Security celebrated Flores-Ruiz's arrest and slammed 'activist judges' who, in the department's view, have attempted to obstruct President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. 'Since President Trump was inaugurated, activist judges have tried to obstruct President Trump and the American people's mandate to make America safe and secure our homeland— but this judge's actions to shield an accused violent criminal illegal alien from justice is shocking and shameful,' Assistant Secretary Dept. of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. 3 New video shows Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan outside her courtroom speaking with federal agents who were there to arrest an undocumented man after he appeared in her courtroom. Milwaukee County Footage released last week appears to show Dugan interacting with the ICE agents in a hallway before allegedly escorting Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a private exit. On May 13, a grand jury indicted Dugan on federal charges of concealing a person from arrest and obstruction of justice. Dugan pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial in July. If found guilty of both charges, she could face up to six years in prison and $350,000 in fines. A member of Dugan's legal team declined to comment on the case.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Wisconsin judge claims 'absolute immunity,' calls DOJ indictment an 'ugly innovation'
The legal team representing a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities recently expanded their motion to dismiss the case. Judge Hannah Dugan's attorneys say that she is entitled to judicial immunity for her official acts and that the federal government overstepped its authority by arresting and charging her. Additionally, the legal team asserts in its memo that the charges violate the Constitution's Tenth Amendment and the principle of separation of powers. They further argue that Dugan can be charged for conduct that is "wholly unrelated" to her duties as a judge, such as taking bribes or violating someone's constitutional rights. Dugan is not accused of doing either of those things in this case. "The indictment itself is an ugly innovation. Its dismissal will not be," Dugan's attorneys write in the memo. Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan Enters Not Guilty Plea In Federal Court The Wisconsin judge is accused of helping illegal immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz evade plainclothes ICE agents who were allegedly attempting to serve him a warrant. Read On The Fox News App A federal indictment claims Dugan "falsely" told the agents that they needed a judicial warrant and directed them to go to the chief judge's office. Dugan then addressed the case off the record instead of holding the scheduled hearing. Flores-Ruiz faces three misdemeanor battery charges. Despite Dugan's efforts, Flores-Ruiz was arrested. New Footage Shows Milwaukee Judge Confronting Ice Before Allegedly Helping Illegal Immigrant Exit The Department of Homeland Security celebrated Flores-Ruiz's arrest and slammed "activist judges" who, in the department's view, have attempted to obstruct President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. "Since President Trump was inaugurated, activist judges have tried to obstruct President Trump and the American people's mandate to make America safe and secure our homeland— but this judge's actions to shield an accused violent criminal illegal alien from justice is shocking and shameful," Assistant Secretary Dept. of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. Milwaukee Judge Indicted For Helping Immigrant Evade Ice Faces Up To 6 Years In Prison Footage released last week appears to show Dugan interacting with the ICE agents in a hallway before allegedly escorting Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a private exit. On May 13, a grand jury indicted Dugan on federal charges of concealing a person from arrest and obstruction of justice. Dugan pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial in July. If found guilty of both charges, she could face up to six years in prison and $350,000 in fines. A member of Dugan's legal team declined to comment on the case. Fox News Digital's Greg Norman and Audrey Conklin contributed to this article source: Wisconsin judge claims 'absolute immunity,' calls DOJ indictment an 'ugly innovation'
Fox News
a day ago
- General
- Fox News
Wisconsin judge claims 'absolute immunity,' calls DOJ indictment an 'ugly innovation'
The legal team representing a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities recently expanded their motion to dismiss the case. Judge Hannah Dugan's attorneys say that she is entitled to judicial immunity for her official acts and that the federal government overstepped its authority by arresting and charging her. Additionally, the legal team asserts in its memo that the charges violate the Constitution's Tenth Amendment and the principle of separation of powers. They further argue that Dugan can be charged for conduct that is "wholly unrelated" to her duties as a judge, such as taking bribes or violating someone's constitutional rights. Dugan is not accused of doing either of those things in this case. "The indictment itself is an ugly innovation. Its dismissal will not be," Dugan's attorneys write in the memo. The Wisconsin judge is accused of helping illegal immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz evade plainclothes ICE agents who were allegedly attempting to serve him a warrant. A federal indictment claims Dugan "falsely" told the agents that they needed a judicial warrant and directed them to go to the chief judge's office. Dugan then addressed the case off the record instead of holding the scheduled hearing. Flores-Ruiz faces three misdemeanor battery charges. Despite Dugan's efforts, Flores-Ruiz was arrested. The Department of Homeland Security celebrated Flores-Ruiz's arrest and slammed "activist judges" who, in the department's view, have attempted to obstruct President Donald Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. "Since President Trump was inaugurated, activist judges have tried to obstruct President Trump and the American people's mandate to make America safe and secure our homeland— but this judge's actions to shield an accused violent criminal illegal alien from justice is shocking and shameful," Assistant Secretary Dept. of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. Footage released last week appears to show Dugan interacting with the ICE agents in a hallway before allegedly escorting Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a private exit. On May 13, a grand jury indicted Dugan on federal charges of concealing a person from arrest and obstruction of justice. Dugan pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial in July. If found guilty of both charges, she could face up to six years in prison and $350,000 in fines. Mastantuono, Coffee & Thomas, the law firm representing Dugan, did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment in time for publication.
Axios
a day ago
- Health
- Axios
More Americans are dining alone — and it's hurting happiness
Americans are dining alone at record rates, according to the latest World Happiness Report (WHR). Why it matters: Sharing meals helps encourage conversation and foster community, which is closely linked to happiness. By the numbers: Roughly 1 in 4 Americans (26%) in 2023 said they ate all of their meals alone the previous day — a 53% increase from 2003. Young adults are driving the solo dining trend, multiple studies show — and they're also reporting high levels of loneliness. Zoom in: The more meals people shared, the happier they reported feeling — even when controlling for factors like income and employment, Gallup principal researcher Andrew Dugan tells Axios. The happiness jump was particularly high when comparing people who shared no meals to those who shared one meal a week, Dugan says. Yes, but: There's a difference between enjoying the food and ambience at your table for one and scarfing takeout alone at home. Solo dining can be a positive, social event, if you go into it with the right mindset. Think: Choose a communal table, chat up someone at the bar. "Even if you're introverted and in a hurry, if you act extroverted, you end up improving your mood," Jenny Taitz, clinical psychologist and author of "Stress Resets," tells Axios. The intrigue: Dugan says happiness levels max out after a certain number of shared meals.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hannah Dugan's legal team files memo arguing for dismissal, citing Trump ruling as precedent
Lawyers representing Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan filed a memorandum May 29 arguing her federal prosecution is not allowed, citing what they say is more than 400 years of legal precedent supporting their position. The 37-page memorandum supports and expands on a motion to dismiss, which Dugan's legal team filed on May 14, the day after she was indicted on charges she helped an undocumented immigrant who was appearing in her court evade federal officers. In the filings, attorney Dean Strang and others on the high-powered legal team argue that as a judge, Dugan has "absolute immunity" for official acts in her courtroom and she cannot be charged for them. Dugan's lawyers also argue the prosecution constitutes federal overreach, violating the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which delineates states' rights. "This is an extraordinary prosecution that poses a threat to federalism and judicial independence," the filing says. "Dismissal here flows from a straightforward application of long-settled law. The indictment itself is an ugly innovation. Its dismissal will not be." The filing goes on to say: "Nothing in the Constitution allows the federal government to superintend the administration and case-by-case, daily functioning of state courts as this indictment proposes." Dugan was indicted May 13 on charges she obstructed a federal agency and helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz escape. Flores-Ruiz, 31, was arrested following a short chase outside the courthouse. Dugan herself was arrested by the FBI at the courthouse a week later. Dugan, 66, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and currently has a trial date of July 21 before U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman. The deadline for motions is May 30. Acting U.S. Attorney Rick Frohling was not immediately available for comment. Kenneth Gale, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Milwaukee, said he does not expect prosecutors in the case to respond in the media to the filing. Federal prosecutors have until June 9 to reply to the defense's motion to dismiss and the defense must reply by June 16. Then the matter will be before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph, who will write a report and recommendations for Adelman. Flores-Ruiz was in Dugan's court April 18 for a status conference on a misdemeanor battery case. He was charged with repeatedly hitting his roommate in the head and briefly strangling him, according to the complaint. Two women who tried to intervene also were hit, it says. Flores-Ruiz has pleaded not guilty to the battery charge and also to a federal charge that he re-entered the country after he was deported 12 years ago. Six federal officers were in the county courthouse on April 18 to arrest him. Federal prosecutors allege that Dugan helped Flores-Ruiz elude federal officers by sending the officers to the chief judge's office and allowing Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to exit a door used by jurors. That door emptied into a public hallway about 15 feet from the main entrance. A federal agent was in the hallway, spotted him and followed. Flores-Ruiz was arrested outside the courthouse. On May 21, Milwaukee County released several hours of surveillance video, some of which will likely be shown if Dugan goes to trial. In the video, Dugan and another judge are seen talking to the agents and directing them to the chief judge. In the motion to dismiss, the defense argued: "Immunity is not a defense to the prosecution to be determined later by a jury or court; it is an absolute bar to the prosecution at the outset." "The immunity and federalism issues must be resolved swiftly because the government has no basis in law to prosecute her. The prosecution against her is barred." The motion goes on to call the prosecution "virtually unprecedented and entirely unconstitutional" and calls problems with the case "legion. In support of the immunity claim, the motion cites a U.S. Supreme Court ruling focused on then former-President Donald Trump's claim of immunity from prosecution. This article will be updated. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Judge Hannah Dugan lawyers file memo arguing for dismissal
