A former Wisconsin judge who helped a Mexican national slip out of her courtroom to avoid Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will not serve prison time, instead receiving a $5,000 fine.
Hannah Dugan, 67, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman, who described her actions as a momentary lapse in judgment rather than a pattern of criminal behavior. Adelman cited Dugan’s decades of public service and clean record in declining to impose incarceration.
“I think this is a situation where an otherwise good person, upset by immigration policies in this country, made a bad decision in the moment,” Adelman said.
Dugan faced up to five years in prison after being convicted in December on one federal obstruction charge. She was acquitted on a second count of concealing an individual from arrest.
Prosecutors argued for a harsh sentence, contending she “crossed” a line and violated her judicial oath. But Adelman, a Clinton appointee, noted Dugan had already lost her judgeship, become a convicted felon, and received threats endangering her safety. He also pointed out that her actions didn’t fully thwart ICE—the defendant was apprehended outside the courthouse.
“This is a few minutes of conduct for someone who has dedicated her life to public service,” Adelman said. “It’s a marked deviation from an otherwise law-abiding life.”
Dugan addressed the court before sentencing, insisting she never intended to break the law and was trying to maintain “decorum and safety of the courtroom.”
“I have been cast as both a scofflaw and a hero. I am neither. I am a public servant who’s just trying to do my job,” she said.
The case dates to April 2025, when six ICE officers arrived at the Milwaukee courthouse to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, a Mexican national who had reentered the country illegally. He was facing three misdemeanor battery charges. Prosecutors said Dugan led Flores-Ruiz out a private door instead of the public exit and told her court reporter she’d “get the heat” for helping him, according to courtroom audio.
Flores-Ruiz has since been deported. Dugan resigned from the Milwaukee County Circuit bench after nine years, following impeachment threats from state GOP lawmakers who painted her as an activist judge. Her lawyers argued the prosecution was retaliatory, part of an effort by President Trump to “crush” judges who resist his immigration crackdown.
This case echoes broader tensions between the judiciary and federal immigration enforcement. In a related matter, a federal judge blocked a DOJ bid for election workers’ personal data, highlighting ongoing clashes over government overreach. Meanwhile, a judge ordered Trump’s $5.8 million payment to E. Jean Carroll released, underscoring how courts continue to check executive actions.
