Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley recently addressed the implications of Judge Hannah Dugan’s suspension following federal charges against her. Dugan, who was accused of attempting to assist an undocumented immigrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, in evading arrest after he appeared in her courtroom, has been suspended by the Wisconsin Supreme Court pending further proceedings. The court has stated that this suspension, effective April 29, is administrative rather than disciplinary, allowing her to continue receiving her salary of $174,512 while on leave.
Dugan faced two federal counts: one felony and one misdemeanor, related to allegedly obstructing a U.S. agency. These charges emerged after she reportedly escorted Flores-Ruiz out of the courtroom through a side door upon realizing that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were outside seeking his arrest. Flores-Ruiz, who had previously been deported, was apprehended by ICE agents following a brief pursuit.
The aftermath of Dugan’s arrest has sparked significant public reactions, including protests in Milwaukee. The political response has been polarized, with Republicans calling for her removal and Democrats condemning the circumstances of the arrests within the courthouse. This incident is not isolated; it reflects a broader context of aggressive immigration enforcement actions that have taken place under the previous administration.
Dugan’s case will soon be presented to a federal grand jury to establish probable cause for the charges. The arrest has drawn comparisons to a previous case involving Massachusetts judge Shelley Joseph, who faced similar obstruction charges but was ultimately reinstated after the prosecution’s actions were dropped. The Dugan situation emphasizes ongoing tensions between judicial authority and immigration enforcement in the U.S. judicial system.
