Federal grand jury indicts Judge Dugan for interfering with the detention of an undocumented immigrant

Judge Hannah C. Dugan, of the Milwaukee County (Wisconsin) Courthouse, was formally indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid being detained by federal agents. According to the indictment, the judge concealed this person and obstructed the work of authorities by interfering with the arrest operation.

The incident that triggered the process

The case originated on April 18, during a hearing in his court. On that day, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican immigrant accused of domestic violence, was appearing. Federal agents had arrived at the courthouse with the intention of arresting him after the hearing, since, they claimed, he was in the country illegally and had already been deported in 2013.

According to FBI documents, when Judge Dugan learned that the agents were waiting for Flores-Ruiz, she became upset and confronted them. She then took the defendant and his attorney through a reserved exit, different from the public door where the agents were. This action allowed Flores-Ruiz to leave the building.

Shortly thereafter, the agents saw him on the street in front of the courthouse. They tried to stop him, but he ran, and a chase ensued. In the end, he was captured and arrested.

A judge under the spotlight

Following this episode, the judge was arrested and charged with obstruction and concealment. Through her lawyers, she has denied the allegations and vowed to defend herself. "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 (...) [she] will defend herself vigorously and looks forward to being exonerated," her legal team said in a statement.

She is scheduled to appear in court this Thursday.

Attorney General Pam Bondi backed the case and noted that the law will be enforced without exception. "It doesn’t matter what line of work you are in; if you break the law, we will follow the facts, and we will prosecute you," she said.