Disgraced Judge Hannah Dugan's Motion to Escape Justice Is Denied

MILWAUKEE, WI — In a shocking development that has left progressive legal activists clutching their emotional support gavels, former Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan discovered this week that the legal system she once presided over can, in fact, apply to judges too.

Dugan, who was convicted in December on a felony obstruction charge after helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz evade ICE agents at a courthouse, had hoped to avoid the unpleasant consequences of being found guilty by convincing the court that her conviction should simply disappear. Legal experts describe this strategy as "the Democrat prosecutor's favorite move" and "worth a shot."

Judge Lynn Adelman, however, apparently missed the memo.

After already rejecting one attempt to vaporize the conviction, Adelman denied Dugan's latest request for either a new trial or a judgment of acquittal, forcing the former judge to confront the radical notion that actions may have consequences.

Federal Judge Lynn Adelman denied former Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan's request for a new trial or a judgment of acquittal after her felony conviction in December.

Adelman issued a 39-page order Monday explaining, in exhausting detail, why "because I don't like the verdict" is generally not considered a compelling legal argument.

"In any event, defendant fails to show that my response to the jury's second question was wrong," Adelman wrote, adding later that the defense "fails to demonstrate that she was prejudiced by the one I gave."

Sources say the defense team was disappointed to learn that federal courts continue to insist on evidence, legal reasoning, and other outdated procedural formalities.

Dugan also attempted to invoke judicial immunity, a doctrine apparently misunderstood by some as meaning, "I used to wear a robe, therefore the law cannot touch me." That argument met the same fate as the others.

As a result, Dugan's felony conviction remains intact.

The ruling serves as an uncomfortable reminder that while Flores-Ruiz was allegedly being escorted away from immigration authorities through courthouse back channels, the victims of the domestic violence case that brought him to court were still waiting for the justice system to work on their behalf.

Instead, they got a front-row seat to a judge allegedly helping the defendant make an unscheduled exit.

Dugan's attorneys have announced plans to appeal the conviction to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, because no modern legal drama is complete without at least one sequel.

No new sentencing date has been scheduled, leaving observers to wonder whether Dugan's next legal strategy will involve sovereign citizenship, interpretive dance, or claiming the courthouse was actually a sanctuary gazebo.

Thank you for following Brain Flushings. Please take time to simply check out the sponsors on this page--it's one way to support my work and you don't need to purchase anything to do so. Of course, you can Buy Me A Coffee if you want to support me directly. And finally, don't be afraid to subscribe if you enjoy the blog--it's free, and worth the cost.

Tweet

Federal judge upholds former wI judge who tried to help illegal alien escape

Disgraced former Milwaukee County Judge Hannah C. Dugan has failed to get her conviction overturned. 

A federal judge has rejected a desperate attempt by a former Wisconsin state judge to overturn her federal felony conviction after she helped an illegal migrant escape through her courtroom back door, which is a crime as it obstructs law enforcement business.

U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman on April 6 denied a motion from Dugan seeking an acquittal or a new trial after a federal jury found her guilty in December of obstructing a federal proceeding.

In his ruling, Judge Adelman said the federal government presented sufficient evidence that Dugan took deliberate steps to hinder federal officials from attempting to carry out an administrative arrest tied to immigration removal proceedings.

The judge also rejected arguments that the jury was improperly instructed or that the obstruction statute was applied too broadly. It seems as if Dugan isn't a very good judge.

Dugan, a leftist and disgraced former Milwaukee County judge, had been indicted following the events of April 18, 2025 when federal officials tried to arrest an illegal migrant suspect at the courthouse. Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies arrived at the Milwaukee County Courthouse to arrest violent suspect and Mexican national, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz. He had an administrative immigration warrant and a prior removal order.

Thank you for following Brain Flushings. You can support my work by checking out the sponsors on this page. It really helps. You can even click on Buy Me A Coffee in the sidebar if you want to show your appreciation. It helps to keep me going, but really, there's  no pressure.

Tweet

Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of felony for obstructing immigration agents in courthouse

In yet another glaring example of liberal judges thinking they're above the law, a federal jury just slammed Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan with a guilty verdict on felony obstruction for helping an illegal alien dodge ICE agents right in her own courthouse.

After only six hours of deliberations, the jury nailed her on the felony count of impeding a proceeding but let her off on the misdemeanor charge of concealing the guy to block his arrest. This all went down back in April when the not-so good judge sprung into action to help Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a previously deported illegal alien, slip away from plainclothes ICE agents waiting to slap a warrant on him. Prosecutors laid it out clear: Once she got wind the agents were after him, she secreted Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer out a back door of her courtroom on April 18.

Dugan pleaded not guilty in May, but soon the smoking-gun video dropped, and it showed her in full robe mode confronting the agents in the hallway and barking orders to get out before the illegal bolted. 

ICE eventually tracked the illegal alien down and nabbed him anyway.

Damning video footage came out shortly after Dugan entered her preliminary plea, revealing her confronting the agents in a courthouse hallway and ordering them out through a door before Flores-Ruiz left the building.

Dugan's defense team whined in a statement: "While we are disappointed in today's outcome, the failure of the prosecution to secure convictions on both counts demonstrates the opportunity we have to clear Judge Dugan's name and show she did nothing wrong in this matter," 

Dugan's defense team said in a statement. "We have planned for this potential outcome and our defense of Judge Dugan is just beginning. This trial required considerable resources to prepare for and public support for Judge Dugan's defense fund is critical as we prepare for the next phase of this defense."

Yeah, sure; keep begging for donations while playing the victim.

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Brad Schimel (note: often spelled Schimel in reports) tried to downplay it, saying Dugan "is certainly not evil nor is she a martyr for some greater cause” and insisting prosecutors "weren’t trying to make an example out of anyone. This was necessary to hold Judge Dugan accountable in our assessment because of the action she took," he said.

But Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche torched her: Dugan "betrayed her oath and the people she served." And she even betrayed her oath to the U.S. Constitution.

"Today, a federal jury of her peers found her guilty and sent a clear message: the American people respect law and order. Nobody is above the law," he posted on X. "This Department will not tolerate obstruction, will enforce federal immigration law, and will hold criminals to account--even those who wear robes. Thank you to the men and women who keep us safe. We will always protect you."

Exactly. The Wisconsin Supreme Court already suspended this rogue judge with pay, [aka vacation] still pulling in about $175,000 a year, but after this conviction, her days on the bench should be numbered, though her team will no doubt appeal and drag it out.

Classic activist judiciary nonsense getting a much-needed smackdown. Nobody, no matter the robe, is above enforcing our immigration laws.

If you like Brain Flushings and want to Buy Me a Coffee, I would appreciate it, as it supports my work and my coffee drinking habit. Obviously, there is no pressure but I certainly wouldn't stop you from doing me that solid. Imagine, you could be the first on your block to do that and your friends will thank you . . . for some reason.

Tweet