The Wisconsin Supreme Court has temporarily suspended Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan following her arrest by the FBI on charges of helping a man evade immigration authorities. The court acted on its own initiative, citing the need to preserve public trust during the pending criminal proceedings. Judge Dugan was taken into custody at the courthouse and faces two federal counts of obstruction for allegedly assisting Eduardo Flores-Ruiz in avoiding arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to an FBI affidavit, Dugan became visibly upset upon learning that ICE agents were present in the courthouse and later confronted them with another judge. She allegedly directed the agents to the chief judge’s office before returning to the courtroom and escorting Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a restricted jury door—normally reserved for court personnel and in-custody defendants. Flores-Ruiz was later apprehended and is currently in federal custody.
Dugan’s arrest has sparked political controversy, with Democrats accusing the Trump administration of using the case to intimidate the judiciary. Protesters gathered outside the FBI’s Milwaukee office over the weekend in support of Dugan. She is scheduled for arraignment on May 15, while her attorney has declined to comment publicly on the case.
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