Judge Dugan Temporarily Removed From Official Duties by Wisconsin Supreme Court

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has temporarily suspended Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan after she was arrested and charged with obstruction of an official proceeding. The charge stems from allegations that she assisted an undocumented immigrant in evading federal immigration authorities.

In a statement issued last week, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the arrest. “I can confirm that our @FBI agents just arrested Hannah Dugan — a county judge in Milwaukee — for allegedly helping an illegal alien avoid an arrest by @ICEgov,” Bondi posted on X (formerly Twitter). “No one is above the law.”

Lee Matz/ Milwaukee Independent via AP

The charges against Judge Dugan have sparked tension between the state judiciary and federal immigration enforcement agencies. According to her attorney, Dugan denies wrongdoing and challenges the basis for her arrest. “Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety,” he told the Associated Press.

In a formal two-page order released Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court stated:
“The court has learned that Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah C. Dugan has been charged with two federal criminal offenses, one of which is a felony and one a misdemeanor. In order to uphold public confidence in the courts during the pendency of this criminal proceeding, we conclude that it is in the public interest that she be temporarily relieved of her official duties.”

Under this ruling, Judge Dugan will not preside over any court matters while the legal process is ongoing. Her active cases will be reassigned to other judges within Milwaukee’s already overburdened court system.

Wikipedia

Legal experts say the decision reflects the judiciary’s responsibility to maintain public trust.
“When a judge faces criminal charges related to their official duties, it creates an extraordinary situation that demands immediate administrative action,” said James Friedman, a judicial ethics professor at Marquette University Law School. “The suspension doesn’t imply guilt, but it protects the integrity of the judicial process.”

If convicted, Judge Dugan could face up to six years in prison. Her next court appearance is scheduled for May 15.