The liberal-leaning Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan after her arrest Friday. Dugan has been charged with two federal counts after allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest after he appeared in her courtroom.
Dugan is not allowed to continue her job as a Milwaukee County judge while her case is pending, according to the court’s order, which is effective immediately until further notice.
Dugan is charged with two crimes: obstruction of a federal agency, a felony, and concealing a person to help them avoid arrest, a misdemeanor.
This follows Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents' attempt to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican immigrant, after he appeared in Dugan’s court on battery charges on April 18.
“Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety,” Dugan’s attorney said in the courtroom on Friday.
More than 100 people gathered at the Milwaukee County courthouse on Friday to protest Dugan’s arrest. Protests continued on Saturday in front of the FBI office in Milwaukee with people chanting “immigrants are here to stay.”
Dugans next court appearance is set for May 15.
Clara Strecker is the state news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She previously served as copy chief. Clara has written in-depth on the 2025 Wisconsin Supreme Court race, abortion rights and protests. She will spend the summer interning with WisPolitics. Follow her on X at @clara_strecker.
