Milwaukee Judge’s Trial Opens Over Alleged Aid to Immigrant Evading ICE Arrest

MILWAUKEE — Jury selection began Monday in the federal trial of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, charged with obstructing immigration agents and concealing a defendant to prevent his arrest. Prosecutors allege that in April, Judge Dugan deliberately diverted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and directed an undocumented Mexican national out a nonpublic exit to help him evade detention.

The case, which could result in up to six years in prison if Dugan is convicted on felony obstruction and misdemeanor concealment charges, has drawn national attention as a test of judicial authority versus federal immigration enforcement. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman, overseeing the trial, denied Dugan’s motion to dismiss based on judicial immunity, ruling that the allegations, if proven, fall outside protected conduct.

Opening statements painted starkly different portraits. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy O’Shea told jurors that Dugan, upon learning ICE agents were waiting in a hallway to arrest Eduardo Flores Ruiz — who had illegally re-entered the U.S. after deportation — confronted officers and falsely claimed they needed a judicial warrant. Prosecutors played surveillance footage showing Dugan speaking with agents before instructing Flores Ruiz and his attorney to leave via a restricted jury door.

“She knew exactly what she was doing,” Mr. O’Shea said. “She took the heat, as she put it, to shield him from lawful arrest.” Audio recordings captured Dugan telling her court reporter she would “take the heat” for the action, which prosecutors called evidence of intent.

Dugan’s defense attorney, Craig Mastantuono, countered that she followed courthouse protocol for defendant safety amid reported threats, pointing them toward a public exit while engaging agents to de-escalate. “This was not concealment,” Mr. Mastantuono argued. “It was a judge ensuring order in her courtroom.” He noted Flores Ruiz was arrested shortly after outside the building following a brief pursuit.

The incident occurred during Flores Ruiz’s appearance on drug charges. ICE had an administrative warrant for his removal. Dugan, elected in 2018 and known for progressive rulings on criminal justice, has been suspended without pay pending the outcome.

Protesters gathered outside the federal courthouse, some holding signs reading “Judges Protect Due Process” and others “No One Is Above the Law.” The trial highlights tensions in sanctuary jurisdictions where local officials limit cooperation with ICE, though Wisconsin lacks formal sanctuary policies.

Legal experts describe the case as rare, testing boundaries between state judicial discretion and federal enforcement. “Judges have broad authority in their courtrooms,” said University of Wisconsin law professor Keith Findley, “but actively aiding evasion crosses into criminal territory if proven.”

FBI Director Kash Patel posted a photo of Dugan’s arrest in April, drawing criticism for politicizing the case. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “No one is above the law.” Dugan has pleaded not guilty.

The trial, expected to last a week, features surveillance video, audio from Dugan’s courtroom, and testimony from ICE agents and courthouse staff. Adelman instructed jurors to focus on facts, not broader immigration debates.

As proceedings continue, the case underscores deepening divides over enforcement in Democratic-leaning cities. Milwaukee’s courthouse, like others nationwide, has seen increased ICE presence under the Trump administration’s deportation priorities.

Whatever the verdict, observers say it could influence how judges nationwide navigate conflicts between local practices and federal mandates, particularly in an era of heightened immigration actions. For Dugan, a conviction risks not only imprisonment but disbarment and the end of a judicial career built on advocacy for fair treatment in the courts she now faces as defendant.