The Wisconsin Supreme Court has suspended Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, who is accused of helping a man avoid immigration authorities.
The suspension was announced Tuesday as Dugan faces two federal charges.
Taken into custody last Friday, Dugan was charged with concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and obstructing or impeding a proceeding.
Highlights
- Judge Hannah Dugan was suspended by the Wisconsin Supreme Court after allegedly helping a defendant evade ICE agents.
- Dugan faces two federal charges: concealing an individual to avoid discovery and obstructing a legal proceeding.
- Dugan reportedly helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz exit through a restricted jury door after learning ICE was in the building.
- Her arrest sparked protests alleging political targeting during heightened federal immigration enforcement scrutiny.
The state’s Supreme Court issued a brief order, saying it acted to protect public trust in the legal system while Dugan’s case proceeds.
Judge Dugan is facing two federal charges, but her legal team insists she is innocent
Image credits: Getty Images
The order also noted that the court was acting on its own behalf, and not in response to a request from anyone else.
Liberal justices hold a 4-3 majority on the court.
The order states that Dugan is “temporarily prohibited” from carrying out judicial duties until further notice. A reserve judge has taken over her cases.
Image credits: Hannah C Dugan/ LinkedIn
“It is ordered ... that Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah C. Dugan is temporarily prohibited from exercising the powers of a circuit court judge in the state of Wisconsin, effective the date of this order and until further order of the court,” the justices wrote in a two-page order.
Dugan’s legal team responded with disappointment, saying that “the Court acted in unilateral fashion.”
“We continue to assert Judge Dugan’s innocence and look forward to her vindication in court,” they added.
Dugan is accused of helping defendant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer exit the courtroom through a restricted jury door after learning that ICE agents were in the building to arrest him.
He was later taken into custody after a foot chase outside the court.
According to court documents, Flores-Ruiz had illegally re-entered the U.S. after being deported in 2013. He is charged with three counts of domestic-abuse battery resulting in physical injury.
On March 12, Flores-Ruiz allegedly got into a fight with his two roommates. The complaint accuses Flores-Ruiz of punching one roommate 30 times, then hitting a woman who tried to end the fight.
Flores-Ruiz pleaded not guilty.
Activists protested against Dugan’s arrest outside an FBI office
Image credits: Getty Images
According to an FBI affidavit, Dugan was “visibly angry” when she learned about the agent’s arrival and called the situation “absurd.” She then left the bench and retreated to her chamber.
Later, she and another judge approached the arrest team members with what witnesses described as a “confrontational, angry demeanor.”
Dugan had a back-and-forth with officers and demanded that they speak with the chief judge.
After directing them to the chief justice’s office, Dugan returned to the courtroom and, according to AP News, was heard saying words to the effect of “wait, come with me”—right before ushering Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer through the jury door.
The affidavit noted that the jury door is typically used only by jurors, deputies, and in-custody defendants—not by lawyers or defendants who are not in custody.
Judge Dugan’s case lands amid intensifying scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement.
Just weeks ago, Merwil Gutiérrez—a 19-year-old Venezuelan with no criminal record—was deported to El Salvador despite not being the target of an ICE operation.
Gutiérrez’s family denies any gang ties or criminal record, noting he has no tattoos linking him to gangs.
Credits: TMJ4
On March 15, a flight carried alleged gang members to a notorious El Salvadoran prison.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was among those on the flight and was “mistakenly” deported due to an administrative error.
His lawyers say he has no connection to any gangs, but the Trump administration insists he is a member of MS-13, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Later, a court found the Trump administration violated an order by deporting hundreds of people to El Salvador and warned of possible contempt.
Democrats and activists have protested Dugan’s arrest, accusing the Trump administration of targeting members of the judiciary. Demonstrators gathered outside the FBI’s Milwaukee office on Saturday to protest her arrest.
Dugan is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on May 15.