Judge Hannah Dugan
Hannah C. Dugan (born 1959) is an American attorney and former state circuit court judge for Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, who served on the bench from 2016 until her resignation in January 2026. She drew widespread national attention following her April 2025 arrest by the FBI and subsequent federal felony conviction for obstructing immigration enforcement.
Personal & Educational Background:
-
- Age: 66–67 (born 1959).
- Education: She earned her Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Master of Arts (MA) from Boston College.
- Legal Career: Before taking the bench, Dugan spent nearly three decades in civil law practice, advocacy for the poor, and nonprofit leadership. She served as the president of the Milwaukee Bar Association from 1999 to 2000.
- Community Work: She served as executive director of Catholic Charities in southeastern Wisconsin, worked with anti-poverty agencies, and was appointed to a Roman Catholic Archdiocese board investigating clergy sexual abuse complaints. She was also an adjunct assistant professor at Marquette University Law School.
Judicial service:
Dugan was elected to a six-year term as a judge for Branch 31 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in April 2016. She won re-election to a second term in April 2022. Her judicial tenure focused heavily on civil law and community justice before it was halted by federal criminal proceedings.
Arrest, Trial, and Conviction:
- The Incident (April 18, 2025): Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrived at Dugan’s courtroom to detain Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant appearing for a state battery charge. Dugan confronted the agents, stating their administrative warrant was insufficient to make a courthouse arrest, and directed them to the chief judge’s office. While they were gone, she permitted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to exit through a nonpublic jury door to evade custody. Flores-Ruiz was caught by agents outside after a foot chase.
- Arrest & Suspension: FBI agents arrested Dugan at the courthouse on April 25, 2025. The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended her from the bench with pay on April 29, 2025.
- The Trial & Resignation: In December 2025, a federal jury found Dugan guilty of one count of felony obstruction of justice (impeding an agency proceeding). She was acquitted of a misdemeanor count of concealing an individual from arrest. Facing threats of impeachment from state lawmakers, she officially resigned from office on January 3, 2026.
- Recent Legal Developments: On June 16, 2026, Federal District Judge Lynn Adelman formally denied a defense motion to overturn her conviction. Dugan’s high-profile legal defense team—which included former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement—argued that a recent separate appellate court ruling meant ICE standard enforcement did not constitute a “pending proceeding,” but Judge Adelman rejected the argument.
- Sentencing Status: Her sentencing remains postponed indefinitely with no new date scheduled. Though the charge carries a maximum of five years in prison, federal guidelines point to probation as the likely outcome because she has no prior criminal history.
