Judge Hannah Dugan Faces Federal Charges After Alleged Interference with ICE Arrest

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan is facing federal charges for allegedly helping a defendant evade arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A federal judge has denied her motion to dismiss the case based on judicial immunity, allowing the case to proceed to trial.

U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman ruled that Dugan did not establish her right to absolute judicial immunity. He emphasized that immunity only protects actions that are inherently judicial, and the allegations—interfering with federal agents and aiding a defendant’s exit—fall outside that scope.

The incident took place on April 18, when ICE agents attempted to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a defendant in Dugan’s courtroom on battery charges. Prosecutors allege that Dugan confronted the agents, insisted they needed a judicial warrant, and diverted them to another area. She then allegedly allowed the defendant and his attorney to leave through a private exit.

Although Flores-Ruiz was arrested later that day, Dugan was indicted soon after. Her defense claims her actions were part of her judicial responsibilities and protected under the Tenth Amendment and separation of powers doctrine. However, Judge Adelman rejected those claims, stating that the alleged conduct—if proven—does not qualify for immunity simply because it occurred inside a courthouse.

The case, set for a hearing on October 3, has drawn national attention due to its implications for judicial immunity and its rare circumstances. Legal experts suggest the outcome could influence how future courts interpret the limits of a judge’s legal protections in cases involving federal enforcement.