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defense team was disappointed to learn that federal courts continue to insist on evidence, legal reasoning, and other outdated procedural formalities.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

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Wisconsin high court suspends rogue leftist judge who allegedly helped illegal alien evade immigration authorities

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has hoisted Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan from her judicial perch, suspending her amid accusations that she played cloak-and-dagger with a man sought by immigration authorities. 

The FBI, not known for dawdling, swept into the county courthouse on Friday morning, bundling Dugan off to face federal charges. These are no trifling matters: concealing an individual to thwart his arrest and obstructing a proceeding. Grave, indeed and if found guilty, needs to face legal consequences.

The state Supreme Court, with a brisk two-page edict on Tuesday, declared it “in the public interest” to sideline Dugan temporarily, noting the weight of the charges against her. Her attorney, perhaps wisely, has kept quiet for now—no immediate comment, no stirring defense. 

Silence, in such moments, can speak louder than words.

And yet, the Democrats, ever quick to scent a conspiracy, or at best to pretend to, cry foul. 

They accuse the Trump administration of orchestrating a grand plot to “chill the nation’s judiciary.” One might pause here, eyebrow arched, and ask: is this truly a chilling of justice, or merely the law catching up with a judge who, if the charges hold, mistook her gavel for a scepter? Who does she think she is, anyway?

The public, one suspects, will not be so easily swayed by partisan vapors. 

Let's hope that justice is served.

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Wisconsin judge arrested for allegedly obstructing arrest of illegal alien

"Okay, who took my dentures?"

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by the FBI for allegedly hiding an illegal immigrant in her jury room to prevent that person from being arrested by ICE, a Fox News source said. The charge was for obstruction of an official proceeding Friday morning after the evidence came to light.

Federal agents from ICE, FBI, CBP and DEA attempted to arrest the undocumented male following his scheduled criminal court appearance on April 18, federal law enforcement sources told Fox News.

That’s when federal law enforcement sources say Judge Dugan demanded that the officers proceed to the chief judge’s office. At that point, they say the judge left and that the undocumented individual’s hearing concluded and that he had quickly left the building.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, pictured in 2016, has been arrested for allegedly hiding an undocumented immigrant in her jury room in order to prevent that person from being arrested by ICE.

Fox News has learned federal law enforcement officials believe Judge Dugan willfully redirected agents and officers to the chief judge’s office so the illegal immigrant could leave the courtroom and evade arrest.

Judge Dugan will likely have her initial appearance in federal court in Milwaukee sometime on Friday, according to Fox News.

Dugan had disputed the accuracy of local reports earlier this week which claimed she had shielded the illegal migrant from ICE.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Dugan responded to the accusations in its publication on Tuesday, writing: "Nearly every fact regarding the 'tips' in your email is inaccurate."

Fox News Digital contacted Dugan’s office by phone on Wednesday and a worker said the judge was in court and would return the call. Fox News Digital contacted Dugan again on Thursday and has not yet received a response.

The incident comes after two people were arrested by ICE officials in the hallways of the courthouse in recent weeks, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

State Rep. Bob Donovan, a Republican, addressed the accusations against Dugan earlier this week and said that the FBI was investigating.

"In all my years of Milwaukee politics and public safety issues, working with cops, district attorneys, and judges, I have never seen a more irresponsible act by an officer of the court, let alone a judge, if true," Donovan said in a statement. "This borders on obstruction of justice and I hope the FBI continues a thorough investigation and, if warranted, prosecution to the fullest extent of the law."

Dugan has worked with legal aid organizations and as executive director of Catholic Charities in the past. She was elected to Branch 31 of the Circuit Court in 2016 and ran unopposed in the 2022 election. She primarily oversees cases in its misdemeanor division, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

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