Latest news with #JudgeDugan
Fox News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan enters not guilty plea in federal court
The Wisconsin judge accused of helping an illegal immigrant evade arrest by ICE in her courtroom entered a not guilty plea Thursday in federal court. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday on federal charges of concealing a person from arrest and obstruction of justice following the alleged incident involving Eduardo Flores-Ruiz last month. Around 200 protesters were demonstrating Thursday outside the federal courthouse in Milwaukee ahead of her court appearance. A trial date has now been set for July 21. The indictment accused Dugan of "falsely" telling federal officials in April that they needed a warrant to come into her courtroom during a scheduled appearance by Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented Mexican national facing three misdemeanor battery charges. Dugan told the immigration officers to proceed to the chief judge's office to obtain a warrant, according to a criminal complaint, and she then escorted Flores-Ruiz through a side door to evade federal agents. Flores-Ruiz was then "arrested after a foot chase," the complaint added. If found guilty of both charges, Dugan could face up to six years in prison and up to $350,000 in fines. "Judge Hannah C. Dugan has committed herself to the rule of law and the principles of due process for her entire career as a lawyer and a judge," her lawyers said, adding that their client further "asserts her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court." On Wednesday, Dugan's legal team also filed a motion to dismiss the federal case against her. "The problems with this prosecution are legion, but most immediately, the government cannot prosecute Judge Dugan because she is entitled to judicial immunity for her official acts. 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 motion said. "Judge Dugan reserves her right to seek other relief, including by other motions before and at trial. But 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 Court should dismiss the indictment," it added. A criminal complaint, citing witnesses, said Dugan "was visibly upset and had a confrontational, angry demeanor" during the incident on April 18. A week later, the FBI arrested Dugan at the courthouse before she was released from custody.
Fox News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Milwaukee judge indicted for helping immigrant evade ICE faces up to 6 years in prison
A Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge arrested in April for allegedly helping a man evade immigration officers in her court could face up to six years in prison if convicted, according to an indictment handed down Tuesday by a federal grand jury. Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by FBI officials last month for allegedly "knowingly" helping an undocumented immigrant in her court evade ICE authorities and telling the officers in her court that they needed a warrant. On Tuesday, she was indicted by a grand jury on federal charges of concealing a person from arrest and on obstruction of justice charges, under 18 U.S.C. Section 1505 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1071, respectively. The indictment accuses Dugan of "falsely" telling federal officials in April that they needed a warrant to come into her court during a scheduled appearance by Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented Mexican national who was in court on three misdemeanor battery charges. Dugan told the officers to proceed to the chief judge's office to obtain a warrant, according to the criminal complaint, and she then escorted Flores-Ruiz through a side door to evade federal agents. If found guilty of both charges, Dugan could face up to six years in prison and up to $350,000 in fines. She will appear in court on Thursday and is expected to enter a plea of not guilty, as indicated by a statement from her legal team on Tuesday. "Judge Hannah C. Dugan has committed herself to the rule of law and the principles of due process for her entire career as a lawyer and a judge," her lawyers said, adding that their client further "asserts her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court." Dugan's arrest and criminal charges have become a political lightning rod at a time when the Trump administration has moved to take sweeping actions to crack down on its immigration enforcement priorities. Her actions, while controversial, have also attracted an all-star legal defense team to argue in court on her behalf. Last month, her defense team tapped former Bush-era solicitor general Paul Clemente to represent her. Clemente, who was also on Trump's short list of Supreme Court nominees during his first term, is a well-respected litigator who has argued more than 100 cases before the Supreme Court. He is also not the only Bush-era powerhouse representing her in court. Steve Biskupic, a former U.S. attorney and a George W. Bush appointee, was tapped last month to head up the team, as first reported by Others include Craig Mastantuono of Mastantuono Coffee & Thomas and Jason Luczak and Nicole Masnica of Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown. Still, Dugan's actions have also sparked fierce backlash from Trump administration officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who have vowed to hold her accountable for her actions. "She will be held accountable for that," Noem told Fox News in an interview Tuesday night. "That was a great decision, coming forward, to recognize that nobody can facilitate breaking the law. "We shouldn't be able to allow that in this country, and we need to make sure that even judges are held accountable for their actions," she added.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
We asked readers about arrest of Milwaukee Judge Dugan. Here's what you said.
Two weeks after the arrest of a Milwaukee County judge by federal authorities, a majority of readers who voted in our non-scientific poll said the U.S. Justice Department took the appropriate action against Judge Hannah Dugan. Federal authorities have accused Dugan of helping an undocumented immigrant defendant evade arrest by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Dugan was charged April 25 with a misdemeanor and a felony — one for concealing a person to prevent his arrest and the other for obstructing a proceeding before a U.S. department. Our poll question asked: "Was it right for the Justice Department to file criminal charges against a Milwaukee County judge?" As of May 9 when the vote closed, 62% said "Yes," 36% said "No" and 1.2% have "No opinion." The margin for the second question — "Was it appropriate for the judge to be arrested by U.S. Marshals at the Milwaukee County Courthouse?" — was similar: 59% said, "Yes, these are serious charges, 40% said, "No, she isn't a flight risk" and 1% have "No opinion." Thank you to the 250 people who took the poll and left comments. Here is a sampler of what readers had to say: ➤"Judges are supposed to enforce the law, not try to subvert it. Dugan should go to trial on the charges, and if found guilt, she should be dismissed from the court, lose her law license, and pay a substantial fine." — Greg Schick, Mt. Pleasant ➤"The arrest is a purely political act. Not surprised by this action because this administration is doing the only thing they are good at, throwing 'raw meat' to their fan club. Unfortunately, while many in our country are banging the drum of 'lock her up,' there remains no progress in resolving many of the actual problems and challenges in our country. Many politicians want a deeply divided country and will continue to do whatever it takes to maintain those divisions because they think it will benefit them. There are no winners here. Let's applaud leaders that will unite us not just give us the next meal of 'raw meat' that we think will taste good. Be better than that." — Parker Sammuelson, Waukesha ➤"That judge spit in the face of the two victims of the illegal (immigrant). He was there to face justice and she showed him the way to escape." — Cheryl Cheun, North Fond du Lac ➤"Some accounts make it sound like the judge gave this man, a litigant in her court, an avenue to escape down a tunnel like 'El Chapo,' the drug kingpin. Actually, the jury exit leads out to the same 6th floor corridor at the Milwaukee Courthouse, about 30 or 40 feet from the main courtroom entrance. Court staff routinely provide an alternate exit for people facing cameras or crowds outside the courtroom. It was ridiculous to charge two felonies for showing a man where the exit is located." — Thomas O'Donnell, Milwaukee ➤"I expect the poll to go as usual. The Democrats will support the judge and criticize Trump as they always do no matter the circumstances. and the Republicans will support the justice department. Milwaukee County is highly Democratic, so I sort of know what to expect. Wouldn't be nice if people voted according to what the law says and not by political stance." — Wergin Glenn, Lake Geneva ➤"This is a classic example of a fascist attack on the judiciary on nonsense legal grounds. ICE's administrative warrants are illegitimate. The entire organization ought to be regarded as the American Gestapo." — Alexandria Lavandula, Cudahy ➤"We've been told for two years now that 'no one is above the law'. That seems to only apply to those who oppose the views of the left." — Chad Yates, Oconomowoc Opinion: Retail theft is on the rise. How come we never talk about the real reasons why? ➤"Nothing that Trump does is justice! So who is his 'justice' department to judge someone who doesn't agree with their far-right wing ideology?" — Eric Hopp, Skokie, Illinois ➤"Read what she had done with her life. She has done more to help the poor, the homeless, the hungry than anyone else I know. It seems as if she is trying to live her life as a good Christian." — Linda Monaco McConkey, Aurora, Illinois ➤"The judge helped a criminally charged illegal (immigrant) escape from federal officers. In these times, too many activist judges, are abusing the legal system. It is time that they are sent a message loud and clear, that this is unacceptable. Having her arrested in public and handcuffed, is the right message, in my opinion." — Jim Anderson Wausau Letters: Of course Sen. Ron Johnson wants to cut Medicaid. He's rich and doesn't need it. ➤"The 'suspect' had no criminal history, was a sitting judge, had clear ties to her community and in no normal universe would any FBI agent look at the circumstances and have any reason to believe she was a flight risk or that she wouldn't appear at the time and place of her first appearance." — John Bigly, Mounds View MN Jim Fitzhenry is the Ideas Lab Editor/Director of Community Engagement for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach him at jfitzhen@ or 920-993-7154. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Majority in poll say arrest of WI judge by FBI was correct | Opinion
