Latest news with #MilwaukeeCountyCircuit
Newsweek
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Judges Raise Alarm Over Unsolicited Pizza Deliveries
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Federal judges are sounding the alarm over unsolicited deliveries of pizzas to their homes, something which they view as a tactic of intimidation against them. Some of the judiciary in question are overseeing cases that involve the White House administration. Newsweek has reached out to the office to one of the judges involved, Michelle Childs, via email for comment. Why It Matters Since his return to the White House, Trump has issued 147 executive orders, according to the Federal Register. Said orders are part of the implementation of a conservative agenda on issues including immigration, the economy and transgender rights. Many of these orders face legal challenges and opposition from members of the judiciary, with some issuing orders to block policies from taking effect. Clashes with the president have ensued, and these judges are increasingly facing scrutiny from conservatives. Demonstrators protest in front of the federal courthouse where Milwaukee County Circuit on April 25, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Demonstrators protest in front of the federal courthouse where Milwaukee County Circuit on April 25, 2025 in Milwaukee, To Know Unsolicited delivery of pizza or other goods to a home address can be a harassment or an intimidation tactic; the purpose of which is to make it clear that the individual sending the item knows where you, and often your family live. U.S. Circuit Judge Michelle Childs, who serves in Washington D.C. spoke to The Washington Post and told the outlet she had seven pizzas delivered this year, starting in February when she was working on a case involving Trump. She described the incident as "unsettling." U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, whose son Daniel Anderl was fatally shot by an attorney who was posing as a FedEx delivery driver, told the Post that she has heard from judges in multiple states who have been sent pizzas under the name of her son. She told the outlet, "It went from judges getting pizzas, to then judges' children getting pizzas, to then judges getting pizzas or their children getting pizzas that they didn't order in my murdered son's name." "To have his name weaponized as a vehicle of fear and intimidation, that takes quite a toll," Salas said. Senator Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, recently called on federal officials to investigate these anonymous deliveries. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel sent on Tuesday, May 6, he wrote that "these deliveries are threats intended to show that those seeking to intimidate the targeted judge know the judge's address or their family members' addresses," and said that people responsibly should be "held accountable to the full extent of the law." The U.S. Marshall's office shared the following statement with Newsweek via email about the unsolicited pizza deliveries, "The United States Marshal Service is looking into all the unsolicited pizza deliveries to federal judges and taking appropriate steps to address the matter." What People Are Saying U.S. Circuit Judge J. Michelle Childs told The Washington Post "It's unsettling because I'd like to go to work every day, even with the hardest case, just feeling like there's no sense of intimidation…it's really an unnecessary and an unfortunate threat to our security when we're trying to be judicial officers in a very neutral position with respect to our cases." Senator Dick Durbin, in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel "These incidents threaten not only judges and their families, but also judicial independence and the rule of law." What's Next Whether such deliveries continue and how a legal or governmental response to the senders might look remains to be seen.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily suspends judge accused of helping a migrant evade immigration authorities
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has temporarily suspended Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, who has been accused of assisting a migrant evade immigration authorities. In a Tuesday order, the court said, 'We conclude, on our own motion, that it is in the public interest that she be temporarily relieved of her official duties.' Last Friday, Dugan was arrested by federal authorities on charges linked to obstructing a proceeding and concealing an individual prior to their arrest. Federal authorities have alleged that she had attempted to hinder President Trump's immigration agenda via helping a migrant in the country illegally avoid arrest in her courtroom. 'I can confirm that our @FBI agents just arrested Hannah Dugan — a county judge in Milwaukee — for allegedly helping an illegal alien avoid an arrest by @ICEgov,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on the social platform X last Friday. 'No one is above the law.' Craig Mastantuono, a lawyer for Dugan, said that she 'wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest' during a hearing last week. 'It was not made in the interest of public safety,' Mastantuono added. Two weeks ago, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz was arrested following being due in Dugan's courtroom over three misdemeanor counts of battery connected to a fight with roommates. When officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) appeared at the courtroom earlier this month, they presented a warrant, but Dugan requested more information and also said they would need to talk with Milwaukee County Courts Chief Judge Carl Ashley before going through with an arrest, per court documents. 'Judge Dugan became visibly angry, commented that the situation was 'absurd,' left the bench, and entered chambers. At the time, Flores-Ruiz was seated in the gallery of the courtroom,' per an FBI affidavit. Officers then went to discuss with Ashley, which is when Dugan allegedly told Flores-Ruiz and his attorneys to exit through a side door. The Hill has reached out to Mastantuono for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily suspends judge accused of helping a migrant evade immigration authorities
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has temporarily suspended Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, who has been accused of assisting a migrant evade immigration authorities. In a Tuesday order, the court said, 'We conclude, on our own motion, that it is in the public interest that she be temporarily relieved of her official duties.' Last Friday, Dugan was arrested by federal authorities on charges linked to obstructing a proceeding and concealing an individual prior to their arrest. Federal authorities have alleged that she had attempted to hinder President Trump's immigration agenda via helping a migrant in the country illegally avoid arrest in her courtroom. 'I can confirm that our @FBI agents just arrested Hannah Dugan — a county judge in Milwaukee — for allegedly helping an illegal alien avoid an arrest by @ICEgov,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on the social platform X last Friday. 'No one is above the law.' Craig Mastantuono, a lawyer for Dugan, said that she 'wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest' during a hearing last week. 'It was not made in the interest of public safety,' Mastantuono added. Two weeks ago, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz was arrested following being due in Dugan's courtroom over three misdemeanor counts of battery connected to a fight with roommates. When officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) appeared at the courtroom earlier this month, they presented a warrant, but Dugan requested more information and also said they would need to talk with Milwaukee County Courts Chief Judge Carl Ashley before going through with an arrest, per court documents. 'Judge Dugan became visibly angry, commented that the situation was 'absurd,' left the bench, and entered chambers. At the time, Flores-Ruiz was seated in the gallery of the courtroom,' per an FBI affidavit. Officers then went to discuss with Ashley, which is when Dugan allegedly told Flores-Ruiz and his attorneys to exit through a side door.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Outside courthouse, supporters call Judge Hannah Dugan's arrest a 'constitutional crisis'
Local elected officials, faith leaders and immigrant advocates called Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan's arrest the beginning of a constitutional crisis and framed it as a defining moment in U.S. history. Her supporters pled for felony charges to be dropped at a press conference outside the county courthouse April 28, where Dugan was arrested by federal authorities April 25 for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest after he appeared in her courtroom. In a brief interview with the Journal Sentinel before the press conference, Milwaukee County Board first vice-chair Steven Shea asserted the Trump administration intentionally cracked down on a judge in Wisconsin, the "most purple of states." "They could not have picked a worse possible judge, because she will stand up for the constitution, due process, the rule of law, every step of the way," Shea said. Dugan's arrest has reached news outlets like BBC and The Irish Times, and it should be considered international news, Shea said. "This is a pivotal moment in American history." Other speakers during the hour-long press conference, including state Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, called Dugan's arrest a sign of a constitutional crisis in which the Trump administration is no longer respecting the checks and balances of the judicial branch. "When they went ahead and put the handcuffs on our good friend Hannah Dugan, they put handcuffs on the judiciary," Carpenter said. Republicans in Wisconsin signaled they may act to remove Dugan through an impeachment proceeding. Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August, R-Walworth, said charges against Dugan are "serious, deeply troubling, and strike at the core of public trust." "I would advise everyone to cooperate with federal law enforcement and not endanger them and the public by obstructing their efforts to arrest criminals and illegal aliens," U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said previously in a statement to the Journal Sentinel. More: Politicians, lawyers and more react to arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, said he texted Dugan Monday and she responded that she's "doing okay." Larson described Dugan as soft-spoken, Catholic-adhering and "the person who's going to bring the best dish at the potluck." He said she sends celebratory emails on Constitution Day and Bill of Rights Day. Dugan, 65, is scheduled for a May 15 preliminary hearing. Her case will eventually go before a grand jury. As of April 28, Dugan's cases are being handled by David Feiss, a reserve judge and former prosecutor in Milwaukee County. The two charges against Dugan — obstructing a U.S. agency and concealing an individual to prevent an arrest — carry a maximum penalty of six years in prison and a $350,000 fine, though sentences in nonviolent offenses are usually much shorter. More: Read the charges against Judge Dugan, arrested by FBI in ICE case More: What's next in Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan's case? This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Advocates call Judge Hannah Dugan's arrest a 'constitutional crisis'
Miami Herald
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Judge Hannah Dugan's arrest is ‘not unprecedented'
The recent arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan has drawn widespread attention—but legal experts say it's far from unprecedented. 'The case against the [Wisconsin] judge. It's unusual, but it's not unprecedented,' CNN crime correspondent Katelyn Polantz said on Friday. 'There has been a case like this before in 2019 during the first Trump administration, charging a judge in Massachusetts who was accused of something very similar, trying to usher someone out of that courtroom as ICE officials were waiting for that defendant,' she added. 'In that case, that ended up being resolved. Those charges were dropped in the Biden administration against that judge in Massachusetts, but she ended up cutting a deal. So it was a legitimate case there as well.' In that 2019 case, Newton District Court Judge Shelley Richmond Joseph and former court officer Wesley MacGregor were indicted on federal obstruction charges. They were accused of helping a twice-deported undocumented defendant exit a courthouse to evade immigration agents, but the charges were later dropped under the Biden administration, CNN reported. Polantz added that the government has 'a case' against Dugan. 'Well, they have a case, and that case is going to go on in court,' Polantz said. 'She hasn't entered a plea yet. She was released after her appearance.' Newsweek has reached out to Dugan's lawyer Craig Mastantuono for comment via email. Why it matters Since beginning his second term, Trump has rolled out an aggressive immigration agenda, which has included mass deportations and a shift toward stricter enforcement and fewer legal immigration pathways. The sweeping actions have reignited debate not only about immigration policy, but also about who gets to stay in the United States and under what conditions. As a result, the Trump administration has clashed with judges at all levels over immigration policies and enforcement since Inauguration Day, but Dugan's arrest marks a significant shift in tensions between the justice system and the executive branch. Judges are rarely arrested or impeached, but U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi suggested Friday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) was going to prosecute more. What to know Dugan was arrested Friday by the FBI for allegedly obstructing federal authorities who were seeking to detain an illegal immigrant. According to a 13-page federal complaint, Dugan allegedly helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national, avoid arrest by federal immigration agents after he appeared in her courtroom for a pretrial conference. The complaint accuses her of escorting Flores-Ruiz out of her courtroom through the jury door last week after learning that immigration authorities were seeking his arrest. The man was taken into custody outside the courthouse after agents chased him on foot. Flores-Ruiz is facing three misdemeanor battery charges. He had been in the U.S. since reentering the country after he was deported in 2013, according to court documents. An FBI affidavit describes Dugan as 'visibly angry' over the arrival of immigration agents in the courthouse and says that she pronounced the situation 'absurd' before leaving the bench and retreating to her chambers. It says she and another judge later approached members of the arrest team inside the courthouse, displaying what witnesses described as a 'confrontational, angry demeanor.' Dugan is facing charges of 'concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest' and obstructing or impeding a proceeding. The Milwaukee County judge appeared briefly in federal court on Friday before being released from custody. 'Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety,' her attorney, Craig Mastantuono, said during the hearing. The charges against Dugan could carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison and up to $350,000 in fines. Her prosecution follows a broader directive from the Justice Department to pursue local officials who interfere with federal immigration enforcement amid Trump's immigration crackdown. In a January memo, the department instructed prosecutors to consider criminal charges against state and local authorities who obstruct or impede federal operations. The guidance specifically pointed to conspiracy statutes and federal laws against harboring undocumented immigrants as possible legal avenues. Dugan's prosecution has sparked backlash from Trump administration critics. Democratic Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, in a statement on the arrest, accused the Trump administration of repeatedly using 'dangerous rhetoric to attack and attempt to undermine our judiciary at every level.' 'I will continue to put my faith in our justice system as this situation plays out in the court of law,' he said. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat who represents Wisconsin, called the arrest of a sitting judge a 'gravely serious and drastic move' that 'threatens to breach' the separation of power between the executive and judicial branches. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Dugan's arrest a 'dangerous escalation,' while Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson accused Trump of targeting political enemies instead of addressing economic issues. Arizona Representative Yassamin Ansari warned it was a clear sign of rising authoritarianism. Trump administration officials have defended the arrest. Bondi wrote on X that 'no one is above the law.' On FOX News Channel's America Reports, Bondi said the Trump administration will target judges who oppose the president's immigration crackdown. 'If you are harboring a fugitive…we will come after you and we will prosecute you. We will find you,' she said. Republican Wisconsin Representative Scott Fitzgerald said: 'Hannah Dugan allegedly helped an illegal alien evade arrest by ICE. This is an egregious abuse of power by someone sworn to uphold the law.' Who is County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan? Judge Hannah Dugan has been a fixture in Wisconsin's legal community for nearly 30 years. Now in her ninth year on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court bench, Dugan presides over cases in the court's misdemeanor division. Before joining the judiciary, Dugan devoted much of her professional life to supporting low-income clients, first through legal aid organizations and later as executive director of Catholic Charities. Dugan was elected to the bench in 2016 after unseating then-Governor Scott Walker's appointee, Paul Rifelj, in a contested race for Branch 31. She was re-elected without opposition in 2022, and her current term runs through 2028. Circuit court judges in Wisconsin serve six-year terms. What people are saying Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin said in a statement: 'In the United States, we have a system of checks and balances and separations of power for damn good reasons. The President's administration arresting a sitting judge is a gravely serious and drastic move, and it threatens to breach those very separations of power. 'Make no mistake, we do not have kings in this country and we are a Democracy governed by laws that everyone must abide by. By relentlessly attacking the judicial system, flouting court orders, and arresting a sitting judge, this President is putting those basic Democratic values that Wisconsinites hold dear on the line. While details of this exact case remain minimal, this action fits into the deeply concerning pattern of this President's lawless behavior and undermining courts and Congress's checks on his power.' Democratic Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said in a statement: 'In this country, people who are suspected of criminal wrongdoing are innocent until their guilt is proven beyond reasonable doubt and they are found guilty by a jury of their peers—this is the fundamental demand of justice in America. 'Unfortunately, we have seen in recent months the president and the Trump Administration repeatedly use dangerous rhetoric to attack and attempt to undermine our judiciary at every level, including flat-out disobeying the highest court in the land and threatening to impeach and remove judges who do not rule in their favor. 'I have deep respect for the rule of law, our nation's judiciary, the importance of judges making decisions impartially without fear or favor, and the efforts of law enforcement to hold people accountable if they commit a crime. I will continue to put my faith in our justice system as this situation plays out in the court of law.' Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, on X: 'There are no kings in America. Trump and Bondi can't just decide to arrest sitting judges at will and threaten judges into submission. This is a dangerous escalation, an attack on the separation of powers, and we will fight this with everything we have.' Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, in a statement: 'I will say, I wish the Trump administration would focus less on settling scores with their perceived political enemies and focus their attention on fixing the economy that they've broken or remedying the mistakes they have made as they slashed through important federal programs.' Arizona Democratic Representative Yassamin Ansari, on X: 'This is why we've been sounding the alarm on authoritarianism. It's happening and it's extremely dangerous.' Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X: 'I can confirm that our@FBI agents just arrested Hannah Dugan – a county judge in Milwaukee – for allegedly helping an illegal alien avoid an arrest by@ICEgov. No one is above the law.' Republican Wisconsin Representative Scott Fitzgerald said on X: 'Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan allegedly helped an illegal alien evade arrest by ICE. This is an egregious abuse of power by someone sworn to uphold the law. No one—especially a judge—should interfere with federal immigration enforcement.' Republican Wisconsin Representative Tony Wied, on X: 'Not only are activist judges trying to thwart the President's agenda, now they are actively breaking the law to protect illegal aliens. Judge Dugan should resign immediately.' What happens next Dugan's next court appearance is scheduled for May 15. 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
