Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan Suspended Amid Federal Charges
Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan has been temporarily relieved of her judicial duties following federal charges tied to an ongoing immigration case. On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued an administrative order, officially barring Judge Dugan from exercising her powers as a circuit court judge in the state. This suspension will remain in effect pending further developments.
The move comes after Judge Dugan’s arrest last Friday on charges related to obstruction of official proceedings. Federal documents reveal that she allegedly helped an individual avoid detention by federal authorities. These charges are connected to an incident on April 18, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were attempting to detain a man after his court appearance.
Authorities claim that Judge Dugan used a restricted jury exit to assist the individual and his attorney in evading ICE agents, allowing them to leave the courthouse through a non-public route, despite agents being stationed outside the courtroom. The individual involved, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, had returned to court to face multiple misdemeanor battery charges. Federal law enforcement, including ICE, FBI, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, were reportedly on hand to take him into custody.
Judge Dugan was arrested by federal agents and appeared before a federal court in Milwaukee on Friday for a preliminary hearing. She did not make a public statement during the hearing.
Her legal counsel, Craig Mastantuono, will represent her at her next scheduled court appearance on May 15. In the meantime, the Wisconsin Court System has confirmed that Judge Dugan’s caseload will be reassigned to other judges to ensure the smooth continuation of court proceedings.
