Mon Jun 02 21:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Milwaukee Judge Faces Trial for Allegedly Helping Undocumented Immigrant Evade ICE

**Milwaukee, WI** – Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan is set to stand trial in July on charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest, stemming from an April incident where she allegedly aided an undocumented man in avoiding federal immigration agents.

The case revolves around the events of April 18th, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrived at Judge Dugan’s courtroom to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who was scheduled to appear on a battery charge. Prosecutors allege that Judge Dugan, 65, after speaking with the agents, directed them to the chief judge’s office and then instructed Flores-Ruiz to leave through a non-public door, allegedly attempting to help him evade arrest on immigration violations. Flores-Ruiz was apprehended outside the courthouse after a brief chase.

Judge Dugan was arrested a week later and has pleaded not guilty. Her legal team argues that her actions are protected by judicial immunity, claiming she was acting within her authority to maintain control over her courtroom and the courthouse. They have described her arrest as “unprecedented and entirely unconstitutional.”

ABC News obtained surveillance footage of the incident, which captures the movements of the judge, the agents, and Flores-Ruiz. However, the video lacks audio and is open to interpretation, according to Dugan’s attorney, Dean Strang, known for his role in the “Making a Murderer” documentary.

“If you’re predisposed to think that Judge Dugan did something criminal… you can find support for that preconception in the video,” Strang said. “If you start from thinking she didn’t do anything criminal… you’ll find support for that in the video.”

The video shows six plain-clothed ICE agents staking out the hallway outside Dugan’s courtroom before she arrived. It then shows Dugan speaking with the agents and directing them down the hall. It does not show what transpired inside the courtroom between Dugan and Flores-Ruiz.

Judge Dugan has assembled a formidable defense team, including former United States Solicitor General Paul Clement. Her lawyers maintain that even if the allegations are true, her actions were judicial acts protected from criminal prosecution.

Dugan entered a not guilty plea in May and remains free on her own recognizance. The trial is scheduled to begin in July.

Read More