A federal jury Thursday night convicted Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan on felony obstruction charges after she helped an illegal immigrant escape from Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents waiting to arrest him at her courthouse in April.
The jury deliberated for more than six hours before finding Dugan, 66, guilty of obstructing an official proceeding, a felony carrying up to five years in prison. The jury acquitted her of a lesser misdemeanor charge of concealing an individual to prevent arrest.
“Former Wisconsin state judge Hannah Dugan betrayed her oath and the people she served when she obstructed federal law enforcement during an immigration enforcement operation,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche posted on X. “Today, a federal jury of her peers found her guilty and sent a clear message: the American people respect law and order.”
“Nobody is above the law,” Blanche continued. “This Department will not tolerate obstruction, will enforce federal immigration law, and hold criminals to account – even those who wear robes.”
The case stemmed from an April 18 incident when ICE agents arrived at the Milwaukee County courthouse to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a 31-year-old Mexican national who had illegally reentered the United States after previously being deported. Flores-Ruiz was scheduled to appear before Dugan on misdemeanor battery charges.
According to testimony from federal agents during the trial, Dugan appeared “angry” when she approached them in the public hallway where they were waiting to arrest Flores-Ruiz after his hearing. She asked the agents if they had a judicial warrant and sent them down the hall to speak with the chief judge.
While most of the agents were away, prosecutors said Dugan rushed Flores-Ruiz’s case through and directed him and his attorney to exit through the jury door – a back entrance that defendants don’t typically use. The door led to a short private hallway that connects to the public hallway where the agents were stationed.
“She was focused on orchestrating Flores-Ruiz’s escape,” prosecutor Keith Alexander told the jury.
Prosecutors also played courtroom audio recordings of Dugan telling her court reporter that she would “take the heat” for her actions in letting Flores-Ruiz exit through the back door.
“She was a frustrated and angry judge who was fed up, who decided to corruptly take matters into her own hands,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Brown Watzka said in closing arguments.
Flores-Ruiz and his attorney emerged from the private hallway into the public corridor about 12 feet from the main entrance to Dugan’s courtroom. An agent followed Flores-Ruiz, and with his fellow agents, chased him on foot before arresting him outside the courthouse. Flores-Ruiz has since been deported.
After the verdict, Dugan’s legal team announced plans to appeal.
“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,” the defense team said. “We have planned for this potential outcome and our defense of Judge Dugan is just beginning.”
Remember the Milwaukee Judge that tried to help an illegal immigrant escape from ICE at her court? A jury just convicted her.
The jury found Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstructing ICE. She faces up to 5 yrs in prison.
Never forget, Democrats defended this crime.
🎥 @ImMeme0 pic.twitter.com/HpHIBphGwZ
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) December 19, 2025