Breaking: A sitting judge accused of helping a criminal alien evade federal authorities just lost her legal shield — and the case is moving forward in dramatic fashion.
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan has been accused of interfering with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents inside her courthouse. Prosecutors allege she tipped off a defendant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, about ICE’s presence and even allowed him to slip out a back entrance to avoid arrest.
Federal Judge Lynn Adelman has now ruled that Dugan cannot hide behind “judicial immunity,” stating her actions fall outside the normal protections given to judges. That means the case will proceed — and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
According to court filings, surveillance footage shows Dugan confronting ICE agents, demanding they present a warrant, and then quietly clearing her docket off the record before letting the defendant and his lawyer sneak away. Flores-Ruiz was eventually caught later that same day, but the allegations against Dugan stunned observers nationwide.
Her defense team argued she was simply exercising her judicial role, but Adelman rejected that claim: “There is no basis for granting immunity simply because some of the allegations could be considered part of a judge’s job.”
The indictment accuses Dugan of interfering with a federal arrest, misleading agents, and physically facilitating an escape — charges that go far beyond ordinary courtroom duties.
The next hearing is set for September 3, and a trial could begin before the end of the year. If convicted, Dugan could face fines or even prison time. Legal analysts warn the outcome could reshape how courts view the boundaries of judicial immunity in the future.
Meanwhile, Flores-Ruiz remains in ICE custody as immigration proceedings move forward.
This case has already drawn national outrage — and it could send shockwaves through the justice system once the trial begins.
