06-05-2025
Ojibwe tribe praises Sawyer County judge for criticizing arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan
Tribal officials of the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe voiced support for Sawyer County Judge Monica Isham after she criticized the recent arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan. In an April 25 email to state judges, Isham announced she would stop holding court unless she received guidance or support from the state regarding Dugan's arrest.
'The Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board commends Judge (Monica) Isham for her bravery in advocating for justice, fairness and safety not only for herself, but for all who serve in the judiciary system,' tribal officials wrote in a statement on May 2.
Dugan was charged with obstructing justice for allegedly trying to help someone avoid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from her courtroom. Dugan has since been barred by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
'I have no intention of allowing anyone to be taken out of my courtroom by ICE and sent to a concentration camp, especially without due process,' Isham wrote in the April 25 email. 'If this costs me my job or gets me arrested then at least I know did the right thing.'
Isham is a member of the Lac Courte Oreille Ojibwe Band, which has a 76,000-acre reservation in Sawyer County in northern Wisconsin. She is the first woman and Indigenous person to be elected to serve as a circuit court judge in Sawyer County.
Since Jan. 20, Isham wrote in the email she has endured racial attacks in her courtroom, including being called an 'immigrant" and told she has "no jurisdiction over White people." Isham reported hearing a potential juror declare they wouldn't follow orders from a person of color and would find a Black or Brown person guilty if they were a defendant.
Isham's email has sparked a wave of criticism from national conservative media and pundits, with some online posts containing threatening messages.
Tribal officials praised Isham as a respected member of the tribe and urged state officials to uphold recently passed bipartisan bills aimed at ensuring the safety of judges.
'To be able to make fair and impartial decisions that are supported by facts, law and the applicable constitution judges must not fear for their safety,' tribal officials wrote. 'There must be civility and professional respect for our judicial institutions even when one may disagree with a judicial decision or rule.'
The tribe is the largest employer in Sawyer County, mostly through its casinos, hotel, convenience stores, gas stations and cranberry operation.
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Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@ or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ojibwe tribe backs Sawyer County judge who criticized Dugan arrest
