A federal jury convicted Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah C. Dugan of felony obstruction after prosecutors said she helped a man evade federal immigration authorities at a courthouse earlier this year. The case centered on an incident in which agents were waiting outside a courtroom as the man appeared before Dugan on a separate criminal matter, and the judge was accused of directing him toward an exit that avoided them. Dugan was acquitted on a separate misdemeanor count related to concealing an individual to prevent arrest, leaving a split verdict that both sides pointed to as significant.

Highlights:

• April courthouse event: Prosecutors said the incident happened April 18, when Dugan allegedly helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer leave through a back door after she learned ICE agents were in the building.
• Deliberations length: Jurors reached their split decision after about six hours of deliberations that extended into the night, according to multiple reports.
• Immunity claim denied: A federal judge rejected Dugan’s argument that she had immunity from prosecution before the case went to trial, Fox News reported.
• Potential sentence: The felony obstruction conviction carries a possible penalty of up to five years in prison, according to Fox News.

While we are disappointed in today’s outcome, the failure of the prosecution to secure convictions on both counts demonstrates the opportunity we have to clear Judge Dugan’s name and show she did nothing wrong in this matter - Judge Hannah Dugan’s defense team

Perspectives:

• Prosecutors: They argued Dugan knowingly interfered with federal agents by helping an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest at the courthouse. (The New York Times)
• Defense team for Judge Dugan: They said they were disappointed but viewed the not-guilty verdict on one count as an opening to keep fighting the case and clear her name. (Fox News)
• Interim U.S. attorney (Eastern District of Wisconsin): He described the matter as a standard criminal case and emphasized accepting the jury’s verdict rather than treating the judge as a symbol. (Fox News)

Sources:

• Milwaukee judge found guilty of obstruction after allegedly helping migrant evade arrest - cbsnews.com
• Judge Convicted of Obstructing Agents as They Sought Undocumented Immigrant - nytimes.com
• Wis. Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstructing ICE agents after helping illegal migrant evade arrest - nypost.com
• Milwaukee County judge found guilty of obstructing federal immigration agents in courthouse incident - foxnews.com
• Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan Found Guilty of "Obstructing Federal Agents Seeking to Make an Immigration Arrest Outside Her Courtroom" - reason.com
• A jury has found a Wisconsin judge guilty of obstruction for helping an immigrant evade federal agents - abcnews.go.com
• Wisconsin judge found guilty of obstruction for helping immigrant shake federal authorities - thehill.com