Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan has resigned from her position just days after being convicted in federal court of obstructing immigration enforcement officers inside a courthouse. Dugan, who had been suspended from her judicial duties since being charged in April 2025, submitted her resignation to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, saying she was stepping aside to allow for a permanent replacement while she pursues an appeal of her conviction.
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The case stems from an incident on April 18, 2025, at the Milwaukee County Courthouse involving Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national who had previously been deported and illegally reentered the United States. Flores-Ruiz appeared before Dugan on state misdemeanor battery charges tied to alleged domestic abuse. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were waiting outside the courtroom with an administrative warrant to take him into custody once the hearing concluded.
According to court records and trial evidence, Dugan became aware of the agents’ presence and confronted them in the public hallway, telling them their administrative warrant was insufficient to make an arrest inside the courthouse. While the agents were temporarily away, Dugan addressed Flores-Ruiz’s case off the record, informed his attorney that future appearances could be conducted remotely, and then escorted Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer through a private jury door typically reserved for restricted use. Agents later arrested Flores-Ruiz outside the building following a brief foot pursuit.
Evidence presented at trial included surveillance footage of Dugan’s interaction with federal agents, as well as audio recordings from inside the courtroom. In one recording, Dugan was heard telling her court reporter that she would “take the heat” for directing Flores-Ruiz out a side exit. Federal agents testified that her actions delayed their operation and described her demeanor as confrontational, while another judge testified about concerns raised over the handling of the situation.
After roughly six hours of deliberation last month, a federal jury convicted Dugan of felony obstruction of a federal proceeding but acquitted her on a separate misdemeanor charge of concealing a person from arrest. The felony carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, though sentencing guidelines suggest probation or minimal incarceration for a first-time, non-violent offender. No sentencing date has been set, as the court awaits rulings on post-trial motions. Dugan’s attorneys have said she plans to appeal, and her resignation effectively avoids a likely impeachment process.[/read]