The FBI Arrested a Sitting Wisconsin Judge — And What Happens Next Could Rock the Judiciary
In a stunning scene outside the Milwaukee County Courthouse, FBI agents arrested sitting Judge Hannah Dugan on Friday morning. Passersby watched in disbelief as one of their city's own judges was taken into federal custody — the first major case of its kind since a similar scandal in Massachusetts five years ago. But behind the flashing lights and viral headlines is a story that could ripple through the American legal system for years to come.
Who Is Judge Hannah Dugan?
Hannah Dugan, elected in 2016 to Wisconsin's Milwaukee County Circuit Court, has served in probate, civil, and criminal divisions during her tenure. Before stepping onto the bench, she built her career at Legal Action of Wisconsin and the Legal Aid Society, earning a reputation as a defender of the marginalized.
Known for her passion for due process and immigrants' rights, Dugan's name was largely confined to legal circles — until now.
What Exactly Happened?
According to federal authorities, Dugan allegedly obstructed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation at the courthouse on April 18. Agents arrived that day with an administrative warrant for Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a man previously deported in 2013 and now facing new domestic violence charges in Wisconsin, according to ABC News.
According to an FBI affidavit, when informed ICE was onsite, Dugan reportedly grew "visibly angry" and challenged agents over their lack of a judicial warrant, as reported by the Associated Press.
Authorities say she then personally escorted Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer through a private jury door — a passage usually reserved for court staff and jurors. Federal officials allege this act enabled Flores-Ruiz to temporarily evade arrest, forcing agents into a foot chase before detaining him outside.
Dugan now faces two felony charges: obstructing a federal proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent discovery and arrest.
Is This Normal? Any Precedent?
A sitting judge being arrested by federal agents is rare — but not without precedent. In 2019, a Massachusetts judge faced similar obstruction charges after allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant escape ICE agents via a courthouse backdoor. Those charges were dropped in 2022 under President Biden's administration after a negotiated referral to a state judicial conduct panel.
Still, the optics of arresting a judge are fraught, especially amid ongoing debates about immigration policy and judicial independence.
How Did the Arrest Unfold?
FBI agents arrested Dugan around 8:30 a.m. in the courthouse parking lot, before she entered the building.
She was quickly transferred to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and appeared before a federal magistrate judge later that day. She was released on her own recognizance, and her next court hearing is scheduled for May 15.
According to ABC News, her defense team, led by former U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic, said that Dugan will "defend herself vigorously and looks forward to being exonerated. Judge Hannah C. Dugan has committed herself to the rule of law and the principles of due process for her entire career as a lawyer and a judge."
What Major Players Are Saying
Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel wasted no time framing Dugan's arrest as a warning to public officials.
In an appearance on Fox News, Bondi said, "I cannot believe I think some of these judges think they are beyond and above the law, and they are not. And we're sending a very strong message today, if you are harboring a fugitive, we don't care who you are," as reported by NBC News.
Patel initially announced the arrest in a post on X, formerly Twitter, saying "Just NOW, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week," according to Politico.
Patel also wrote, "We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject — an illegal alien — to evade arrest."
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders, including Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin, warned the arrest could represent executive overreach. In a statement on X reported by Politico, Baldwin said, "Make no mistake, we do not have kings in this country and we are a democracy governed by laws that everyone must abide by. By relentlessly attacking the judicial system, flouting court orders and arresting a sitting judge, this president is putting those basic democratic values that Wisconsinites hold dear on the line."
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, in a public statement, said, "I will continue to put my faith in our justice system as this situation plays out in the court of law," as reported by Politico.
Public Reaction
Public response has been sharp and divided. Protesters marched outside the Milwaukee FBI office on Saturday, chanting slogans in support of immigrants and judicial independence.
Meanwhile, several Republican lawmakers called for Dugan's resignation, labeling her an "activist judge" undermining the law, according to the Guardian.
What Happens Next?
Judge Dugan's case is moving toward a federal trial, with the next hearing set for May 15. If convicted, she faces up to six years in prison.
Her arrest has already reignited broader debates about immigration enforcement, judicial power, and political retaliation. Whether this becomes a straightforward legal proceeding or a flashpoint in an ongoing political battle will depend largely on how the case unfolds in the coming months.
References: FBI arrests Milwaukee judge, alleging she interfered in immigration operation | FBI arrests Milwaukee-area judge for obstruction in immigration case | Democrats decry Wisconsin judge’s arrest as Republicans call to remove her | Protesters chant after arrest of judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities | 'No one is above the law': AG Bondi blasts judges accused of helping undocumented immigrants evade arrest
