Federal authorities have charged Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan with obstruction after she allegedly attempted to help an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest in her courtroom last week. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest, accusing Dugan of “intentionally misdirecting” immigration agents who were trying to detain Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national facing misdemeanor battery charges.
According to court documents, the incident unfolded on April 18 when six federal agents arrived at Dugan’s courtroom to execute an immigration warrant for Flores-Ruiz. The FBI affidavit states Dugan became “visibly angry” upon learning of their presence, called the situation “absurd,” and later escorted Flores-Ruiz toward a restricted exit while other agents were distracted. Though Flores-Ruiz briefly fled the courthouse, he was captured minutes later. Dugan, first elected in 2016 and reelected in 2022, was released pending a May 15 hearing and faces up to six years in prison if convicted.
The arrest has sparked partisan reactions, with Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin condemning it as an attack on judicial independence, while Republican Senator Ron Johnson emphasized cooperation with federal law enforcement. The case follows a similar 2019 incident in Massachusetts where charges against a judge were eventually dropped. Attorney General Pam Bondi warned such obstruction “will not be tolerated,” particularly in cases involving domestic violence victims. Milwaukee’s Democratic mayor criticized the arrest as political “showboating” that could chill judicial proceedings.
