The Wisconsin Supreme Court has suspended Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan after federal prosecutors charged her with obstruction and concealing a person to prevent arrest. The arrest stems from an incident in which Dugan allegedly helped a previously deported immigrant evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at a courthouse.
Federal agents from multiple agencies, including the FBI, ICE, CBP, and DEA, attempted to apprehend Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz following a criminal court appearance before Dugan on April 18. Flores-Ruiz was facing three misdemeanor battery charges related to an alleged assault on two individuals.
According to an FBI affidavit, Dugan was informed of the agents' presence in the courthouse and responded with visible frustration, reportedly calling the situation "absurd." The complaint alleges she left the bench, confronted the agents with another judge, and then instructed them to speak with the chief judge.
After escorting agents away, the affidavit states, Dugan returned to the courtroom and led Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a restricted jury door, bypassing the public area where federal agents were stationed. "Only deputies, juries, court staff, and in-custody defendants being escorted by deputies used the back jury door," the affidavit noted. "Defense attorneys and defendants who were not in custody never used the jury door."
FBI Director Kash Patel accused Dugan of "intentionally misdirecting federal agents away" from Flores-Ruiz. The immigrant was later arrested and remains in custody.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a two-page administrative order on Tuesday suspending Dugan from her judicial duties "in order to uphold the public's confidence in the courts." The order, initiated by the court itself, states she will be "temporarily prohibited from exercising the powers of a circuit court judge."
Dugan appeared in federal court in Milwaukee on Friday and was released after her initial appearance. She faces arraignment on May 15. The charges include one count of obstruction of an official proceeding and one count of concealing a person to avoid discovery and arrest.
Her attorney, Craig Mastantuono, stated during the hearing, "Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety."
Dugan disputed the narrative in a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, writing, "Nearly every fact regarding the 'tips' in your email is inaccurate."
Her arrest has sparked political fallout, with critics and supporters clashing over the case's implications. Demonstrators gathered outside the FBI's Milwaukee office on Saturday to protest what they described as political overreach. Meanwhile, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned Dugan's actions on Fox News. "You cannot obstruct a criminal case. And really, shame on her," Bondi said. "It was a domestic violence case of all cases, and she's protecting a criminal defendant over victims of crime."
Bondi described the alleged attack by Flores-Ruiz as particularly violent. "[He] beat the guy, hit the guy 30 times, knocked him to the ground, choked him, beat up a woman so badly; they both had to go to the hospital," she said.
Dugan was appointed to the bench in 2016 and had been serving in Milwaukee County's criminal division prior to her suspension.
