Key facts
- Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan faces sentencing after a felony obstruction conviction.
- Dugan was convicted for aiding an immigrant in evading federal officers.
- The case is seen as a conflict between the judiciary and the Trump administration's immigration policies.
- Dugan resigned from her judgeship and faces up to five years in prison.
- Prosecutors argue Dugan violated her oath, while her attorneys claim she has been punished enough.
Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan is set to be sentenced Wednesday in federal court after being convicted of felony obstruction for assisting an immigrant in evading federal officers. The case has become a symbol of the conflict between the judiciary and the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies.
Dugan, 67, faces a potential prison sentence of up to five years following her conviction on December 19. She resigned from her role as a Milwaukee County circuit judge two weeks later, having served for nine years, amidst threats of impeachment from Republican state lawmakers.
The Trump administration pursued the case against Dugan, with allies labeling her an "activist judge." Her defense argued the administration sought to make an example of her to suppress judicial opposition to its immigration efforts. Immigrant rights advocates supported this view, seeing the case as a national bellwether.
Prosecutors contend Dugan violated her judicial oath and endangered law enforcement and the public. Her attorneys argue she has faced sufficient punishment through her resignation and threats of violence, advocating for no jail time beyond the single day she already spent in custody.
Under federal sentencing guidelines, the presentence report suggests 15 to 21 months in prison, though the judge is not bound by these recommendations. Prosecutors noted the average sentence for obstruction cases is 16 months but did not recommend a specific term, stating the offense warrants a "serious sentence."
Dugan's case is notable as the first time a Wisconsin state judge went to trial for obstructing immigration agents. She was acquitted of a misdemeanor charge of concealing an individual to prevent arrest. The incident involved immigration officers attempting to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz at the Milwaukee County courthouse on April 18, 2025. Dugan confronted the agents, directed them elsewhere, and then escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out via a private exit. Agents later apprehended Flores-Ruiz after a foot chase outside the courthouse. He was subsequently deported in November. Dugan's attorneys have stated their intention to appeal the conviction regardless of the sentencing outcome.