Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee judge known for her strict courtroom and community involvement, was arrested for allegedly helping man evade immigration authorities. The FBI claims she assisted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz in leaving the courthouse to avoid arrest during his domestic battery hearing. Dugan, a longtime figure in Milwaukee's public life and a judge since 2016, has faced scrutiny amid increasing national debates on immigration law and enforcement. Her actions have led to concerns about public safety and the judiciary's role in immigration matters.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the move via social media, saying Dugan "increased danger to the public." The judge allegedly let Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer leave her courtroom through a jury door on April 18 to help avert his arrest, according to an FBI affidavit.
Tom Barrett, a former congressman and mayor of Milwaukee for 17 years, said he was friends with Dugan's older sister in high school and has known Dugan, 65, since she was 12. "As a person and a judge, she always tries to do the right thing, and she cares deeply about the community and people and justice."
Dugan is a longtime Milwaukee public figure. She has been a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge since defeating an incumbent appointee of former Republican Gov. Scott Walker in 2016. She ran unopposed in 2022, and her current term expires in 2028.
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