A Wisconsin judge who helped an illegal immigrant flee federal immigration enforcement officials was found guilty of obstruction by a jury on Thursday, after six hours of deliberation.
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was previously charged with felony obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest, a misdemeanor charge, after she ushered a Mexican illegal immigrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, away from federal agents, according to the criminal complaint.
The jury convicted Dugan of the felony obstruction charge, but dropped the misdemeanor. Dugan could serve up to five years in prison, although her sentencing has not been scheduled yet.
Dugan’s lead attorney, Steve Biskupic, told reporters after the verdict that he is confused by the split conviction, notably because the elements of both charges are essentially the same.
In April, Dugan led Flores-Ruiz through the courtroom’s “jury door” to a private part of the courthouse that federal immigration agents were unable to enter. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had a warrant for Ruiz’s arrest, but were unable to execute the arrest at that time. Ruiz, however, was later caught.
Dugan was allegedly aware of ICE’s plans to detain Flores-Ruiz, who was at the courthouse for a domestic abuse hearing.
“I can confirm that our @FBI agents just arrested Hannah Dugan – a county judge in Milwaukee – for allegedly helping an illegal alien avoid an arrest by @ICEgov. No one is above the law,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said when Dugan was arrested back in April.
“Some have sought to make this about a larger political battle,” U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel said following the verdict. “While this case is serious for all involved, it is ultimately about a single day, a single bad day, in a public courthouse. The defendant is certainly not evil. Nor is she a martyr for some greater cause.”
Ruiz had previously been deported, but reentered the country once again before his court date back in April – reentry is a felony offense in itself.
When Dugan realized federal agents were in the corridor, she sent Ruiz through the jury door and told him he could attend his next hearing via Zoom. Ultimately, agents saw Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse after the fact and were able to arrest him.
Prosecutors played audio recordings during the trial, where Dugan can be heard telling the court reporter that she will take “the heat” for letting Flores-Ruiz get away.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced in November that Flores-Ruiz was deported once again.