Key facts
- Federal judge Lynn Adelman upheld the obstruction of justice conviction of former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan.
- Dugan was convicted for helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
A federal judge has upheld the obstruction of justice conviction of former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan for helping an immigrant evade ICE officers. Dugan faces up to five years in prison but is likely to receive probation.
The ruling upholds a conviction against a state judge for actions taken during an immigration enforcement operation, setting a precedent for how judicial interference in such matters will be treated and underscoring the Trump administration's stance on immigration enforcement.
U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman has upheld the obstruction of justice conviction of former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan, who was found guilty of helping an immigrant evade ICE officers. Dugan's legal team had argued that her conviction should be overturned, citing a federal appeals court ruling that invalidated a similar case in Virginia. In that case, the appeals court determined that an ICE action did not constitute a "pending proceeding" as required by federal obstruction law.
However, Adelman ruled that the attempted arrest of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, the immigrant in Dugan's case, did qualify as a "pending proceeding." He noted that it was a planned operation, distinguishing it from a random encounter, and highlighted ICE's authority to issue its own warrants and effect removals without court involvement.
Dugan, who resigned from the Milwaukee County Circuit Court after her conviction, faces a maximum of five years in prison. Given her lack of criminal history and the nonviolent nature of the offense, she is unlikely to serve jail time and is expected to receive probation.
The case against Dugan was initiated during President Donald Trump's administration as part of its broader immigration enforcement efforts. Trump allies labeled Dugan an "activist judge," while her supporters contended she was unfairly targeted. Dugan's conviction marked the first time a state judge in Wisconsin went to trial for charges related to obstructing immigration agents. She was acquitted of a separate misdemeanor charge of concealing an individual to prevent arrest.