On Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Alan Freed, a clerk for Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, was reprimanded for referring to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent as a “fascist.” The incident occurred on April 18 outside Judge Dugan’s courtroom.
Freed’s reprimand stemmed from an incident where ICE agents were present in the hallway outside Dugan’s courtroom to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who was wanted for illegally re-entering the United States after a previous deportation. Freed testified during Dugan’s federal obstruction trial that he informed her about the presence of the ICE agents and subsequently called one of them a “fascist” in the public hallway.
Judge Dugan faced charges of felony obstruction of agents and a misdemeanor charge of attempting to hide Flores-Ruiz. The jury delivered a split verdict, finding her guilty of felony obstruction but not guilty on the misdemeanor charge. Dugan’s defense team is currently seeking to overturn the jury verdict, with motions to be filed by late January with U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman.
Milwaukee County Clerk of Courts Anna Hodges confirmed the reprimand but refrained from providing specific details, citing personnel privacy. However, she emphasized that state Supreme Court rules prohibit court staff from expressing personal opinions while on duty, highlighting the need for impartiality and professionalism in the courtroom setting. Hodges also noted that her staff, including Freed, receive regular training on decorum and are aware of the relevant state Supreme Court rules.
Freed, who retired on January 2, stated that his retirement was planned and unrelated to the reprimand. He described the reprimand as the “lowest level of write-up” and maintained that he stood by his comments, considering them political speech. He also mentioned that it was his first reprimand in his seven years as a court clerk.
While Freed acknowledged being told that his language was inappropriate for a county employee in a public hallway, he claimed to be unaware of specific decorum rules for court clerks.
Reflecting on the events of April 18, Freed suggested he might have tried to dissuade Judge Dugan from using a private employee-only door to escort Flores-Ruiz and his attorney, a key element of the case.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
