Latest news with #MilwaukeeCountyCircuitCourt
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What to know about Judge Laura Crivello who is presiding Maxwell Anderson trial
A judge's role in any trial is to make sure the proceedings are fair and that lawyers stay on topic and aren't grandstanding in front of a jury. Circuit Court Judge Laura Crivello will be the one officiating Maxwell Anderson's homicide trial. Education: Crivello attended University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for her undergraduate degree and went to law school at Marquette University Law School and graduated in 1993. Work experience: Crivello worked 24 years as an assistant District Attorney in Milwaukee County. During that time, she prosecuted various felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, including those involving homicide, firearms, drugs, domestic violence, community prosecution, and child protection cases. 54 Crivello was appointed to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in 2018 by then-Gov. Scott Walker. She retained her seat in an uncontested 2019 judge race and again in 2025. The case against Anderson was transferred to Crivello in July as part of a judicial rotation schedule change in July ordered by Chief Judge Carl Ashley. The initially was assigned to Judge Mark Sanders. Sade Robinson, 19, was just weeks from graduating from Milwaukee Area Technical College when police say she was killed during a first date in April, and her body was dismembered. Anderson, 34, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and other felonies in connection with her death. He has pleaded not guilty. Crivello presided over the trial of Stephanie Rapkin, the Shorewood lawyer who was convicted of a misdemeanor for spitting on a Black teenager during a racial justice protest in 2020. Rapkin rejected the judge's sentence of a year of probation and 100 hours of community service, and chose instead to spend 60 days in the House of Correction as punishment. Crivello oversaw the trial of Antonius Trotter, who was convicted of killing 11-year-old Ta'Niyla Parker and wounding her younger sister in an October 2021 shooting that drew protests and demonstrations around the city. Trotter is serving a 60-year in prison sentence. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Judge Crivello, presiding Maxwell Anderson trial
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Milwaukee County judge files to have federal charges against her dismissed
The Milwaukee County Courthouse (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) Attorneys for Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan filed a motion to dismiss the federal charges against her on Wednesday, arguing the government can't charge her because she has judicial immunity. 'This is no ordinary criminal case, and Dugan is no ordinary criminal defendant,' the motion states. 'Dugan is a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge. She was arrested and indicted for actions allegedly taken in and in the immediate vicinity of her courtroom, involving a person appearing before her as a party. The government's prosecution of Judge Dugan is virtually unprecedented and entirely unconstitutional — it violates the Tenth Amendment and fundamental principles of federalism and comity reflected in that amendment and in the very structure of the United States Constitution.' The motion states that the problems with the prosecution 'are legion,' and begin with her judicial immunity, which prevents judges from being charged with crimes for their official acts. Immunity is not a defense to be used at trial but 'is an absolute bar to the prosecution at the outset,' the motion states, citing the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Trump v. United States that found the president can't be charged with crimes for official acts. Dugan has been accused by federal officials of helping an immigrant without legal status in the U.S. escape from federal agents waiting to arrest him outside her courtroom last month. The criminal complaint alleges she directed the man, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who came to her court for a routine hearing in a misdemeanor case, out a side door to avoid federal agents waiting to arrest him with an administrative warrant. Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer exited the courtroom into the same hallway where the agents were waiting and a DEA agent rode down the elevator with him before he was arrested on the street. Trump administration officials have touted the case as an example of a stern federal response to 'deranged' judges across the country working to stymie the president's efforts to increase immigration enforcement. Dugan's motion states the facts alleged in the indictment and criminal complaint against her would be disproven at trial, but that the case should never get that far. 'Even if (contrary to what the trial evidence would show) Judge Dugan took the actions the complaint alleges, these plainly were judicial acts for which she has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution,' the motion states. 'Judges are empowered to maintain control over their courtrooms specifically and the courthouse generally.' Dugan's attorneys also argue that the prosecution violates the Tenth Amendment, which clarifies the balance of power between states and the federal government. The motion states that federal agents going into a state courthouse to arrest a sitting judge is a violation of the Constitution. 'The government's prosecution here reaches directly into a state courthouse, disrupting active proceedings, and interferes with the official duties of an elected judge,' the motion states. 'The federal government violated Wisconsin's sovereignty on April 18 when it disrupted Judge Dugan's courtroom, and it is violating Wisconsin's sovereignty now with this prosecution. The Court should end the violation of Wisconsin's sovereignty and dismiss the indictment.' Dugan is scheduled to appear in court for her arraignment Thursday morning. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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. She was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday 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. On Wednesday, Dugan's legal team filed a motion to dismiss the federal case against her. They argued that the government "cannot prosecute Judge Dugan because she is entitled to judicial immunity for her official acts," and that "the government has no basis in law to prosecute her." The indictment handed down by the grand jury one day prior accused 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. Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan Indicted After Allegedly Helping Illegal Alien Evade Ice Read On The Fox News App 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. Wisconsin Judge Accused Of Obstructing Ice Could Face Years In Prison, Doj Has 'Upper Hand': Former Prosecutor 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. Fox News's Michael Dorgan and Greg Wehner contributed to this report. Original article source: Milwaukee judge indicted for helping immigrant evade ICE faces up to 6 years in prison
Global News
14-05-2025
- Global News
U.S. judge charged, accused of helping immigrant evade ICE agents
A Wisconsin judge has been indicted after officials say she helped a Mexican man evade immigration officials by ushering him out the back door of a courthouse. Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, was arrested last month and charged with obstructing or impeding a proceeding before a department or agency of the United States and concealing an individual to prevent discovery and arrest. On Tuesday, a federal grand jury indicted Dugan, accusing her of confronting members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and falsely telling them they needed a judicial warrant to conduct their operation. She's also accused of facilitating the escape of the undocumented immigrant and his lawyer by helping them sneak around federal agents. View image in full screen This 2016 photo shows Judge Hannah Dugan in Milwaukee. Lee Matz / The Canadian Press According to an affidavit filed by the U.S. district court on April 18, Dugan escorted a man named Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer away from the courtroom through the jury room door to stave off his arrest. Story continues below advertisement Court documents claim that Flores-Ruiz was residing in the U.S. illegally and that a warrant for his arrest was issued on April 17. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The affidavit quoted the courtroom deputy as overhearing Dugan utter something to the effect of 'Wait, come with me,' before directing them into a private area of the courthouse. The action was unusual, the affidavit continued, saying that 'only deputies, juries, court staff, and in-custody defendants being escorted by deputies used the back jury door. Defense attorneys and defendants who were not in custody never used the jury door.' Flores-Ruiz was facing three misdemeanour battery counts and had appeared in the Milwaukee court for a scheduled hearing, where six officers from ICE, the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) were waiting to arrest him. The affidavit said that Dugan became 'visibly angry, commented that the situation was 'absurd,' left the bench, and entered chambers' when she learned of their presence. Story continues below advertisement She redirected the officers to report to the chief judge, the affidavit said, before sneaking the Mexican man and his lawyer out of the courthouse. In the process, two agents witnessed Dugan help them escape. View image in full screen FILE – Supporters of Judge Hannah Dugan hold a rally in Milwaukee at the U.S. Courthouse in Milwaukee on Friday, April 25, 2025. Lee Matz / Milwaukee Independent via AP FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest on social media, but deleted the post shortly after. It didn't take long for the Wisconsin Supreme Court to suspend Dugan from the bench, saying the move was necessary to preserve public trust in the courts. Dugan's arrest and indictment comes amid rising tensions between the Donald Trump administration and some of the country's most senior judges over the president's immigration enforcement policy, sparking protests in Milwaukee. View image in full screen FILE – Supporters of Judge Hannah Dugan hold a rally in Milwaukee at the U.S. Courthouse in Milwaukee, April 25, 2025. Lee Matz / Milwaukee Independent via AP Dugan is scheduled to enter her plea deal to the charges on Thursday. If convicted, she faces up to six years in prison and fines of up to US$350,000.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily suspends Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan after arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has suspended Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan after she was arrested by the FBI and charged last week for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant evade arrest, an order from the court shows. "The court has learned that Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah C. Dugan has been charged with two federal criminal offenses, one of which is a felony and one of which is a misdemeanor," a two-page order from the court filed Tuesday stated. "This court is charged in the Wisconsin Constitution with exercising superintending and administrative authority over the courts of this state. In the exercise of that 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, on our own motion, that it is in the public interest that she be temporarily relieved of her official duties." Dugan was charged with two criminal counts of "obstructing and impeding a proceeding before a department or agency of the United States" and "concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest," according to a criminal complaint unsealed Friday. MORE: Reserve judge to handle cases of Milwaukee judge arrested by FBI, court says The Wisconsin Supreme Court said Dugan is "temporarily prohibited from exercising the powers of a circuit court judge in the State of Wisconsin," effective Tuesday until further order from the court. Prior to the order, a Milwaukee County official said this week that starting Monday, a reserve judge will cover Dugan's cases. The judge was arrested on Friday over allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant "evade arrest" the week prior, according to FBI Director Kash Patel, who claimed on social media that Dugan "intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse." U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement that two FBI agents arrested Dugan "for allegedly helping an illegal alien avoid arrest" by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily suspends Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan after arrest originally appeared on
