On Friday, December 19, 2025, the Associated Press reported that Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan was found guilty of obstruction on Thursday, December 18, 2025, in a case involving a Mexican immigrant. The verdict is considered a victory for President Donald Trump amidst his administration’s intensified immigration enforcement efforts.

Dugan, a Milwaukee County Circuit Judge, was charged in April with obstruction, a felony, and concealing an individual to prevent arrest, a misdemeanor. While the jury acquitted her on the concealment charge, the obstruction conviction carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. The sentencing date has not yet been determined.

The case has ignited debate surrounding President Trump’s immigration policies. Some Democrats argue that the administration is using Dugan’s case to discourage judicial opposition to its immigration operations, while the administration has labeled Dugan an activist judge.

Following the verdict, Dugan and her legal team left the courtroom without commenting to reporters. Steve Biskupic, Dugan’s lead attorney, expressed disappointment with the jury’s decision, questioning the logic behind the split verdict, as he believed the elements of both charges were substantially similar.

U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel refuted claims that the case was politically motivated and urged the public to accept the verdict peacefully. He defended courthouse arrests as a safer practice due to security screenings and maintained that arresting wanted individuals in courthouses is within the bounds of law enforcement authority.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche praised the verdict on X, emphasizing that the law applies equally to everyone, including judges.

The charges against Dugan stemmed from an incident on April 18 at the Milwaukee County courthouse. Immigration authorities were present to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a 31-year-old Mexican national who had illegally re-entered the United States and was scheduled to appear before Dugan for a hearing related to a state battery case.

Upon learning of the agents’ presence, Dugan confronted them, falsely asserting that their administrative warrant for Flores-Ruiz was insufficient and directing them to the chief judge’s office. While the agents were away, Dugan addressed Flores-Ruiz’s case off the record, informed his attorney that he could attend the next hearing via Zoom, and escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out of a private jury exit.

Agents spotted Flores-Ruiz in the corridor, pursued him, and arrested him after a brief foot chase. The Department of Homeland Security announced in November that Flores-Ruiz had been deported.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that Dugan deliberately directed the agents to the chief judge’s office to facilitate Flores-Ruiz’s escape. An FBI agent testified that Dugan expedited Flores-Ruiz’s case, informed him about the Zoom option for future hearings, and led him out the private door immediately after the agents left the corridor. Audio recordings from the courtroom captured Dugan telling her court reporter that she would take “the heat” for helping Flores-Ruiz exit through the back.

Dugan’s defense argued that she was adhering to courthouse protocols that require court employees to report immigration agents to their supervisors and that she did not intentionally obstruct the arrest.

 

 

Source: Associated Press