Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine for obstructing the arrest of an illegal immigrant at a courthouse, but she will not serve any prison time.
Dugan, 67, was convicted of felony obstruction last year after federal agents attempted to serve a warrant to Eduardo Flores-Ruiz on April 18, 2025. This incident occurred while Flores-Ruiz was scheduled to appear before Dugan for a hearing in a state battery case.
Prosecutors had requested a sentence of between 15 and 21 months, but U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman imposed a fine instead. In her defense, Dugan stated that her actions were consistent with community concerns and not motivated by personal interests.
Before her sentencing, several people testified on her behalf, including a Jesuit priest and a law professor. They described Dugan as a public servant who was simply trying to do her job and argued that she should not be punished further.
Dugan's actions were met with controversy, with Republican lawmakers labeling her an activist judge and prosecutors arguing that she had put the lives of law enforcement officers and the public at risk.
The incident led to Dugan's resignation from her position as a Milwaukee County circuit judge, amid threats of impeachment. Despite this, she expressed her intention to return to public service, stating that she will not let the incident define her life's work.
