MILWAUKEE — Judge Hannah Dugan of Milwaukee County is due in federal court on Thursday, where she is anticipated to plead not guilty to charges stemming from an incident in April.
Dugan was taken into custody last month after being accused of assisting in the concealment of a suspect, thereby obstructing federal agents during an attempted arrest at the Milwaukee County Courthouse on April 18. The focus of that operation was Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a man facing charges of battery and abuse following a dispute with his roommates. Investigators noted that Flores-Ruiz had unlawfully reentered the United States after being deported in 2013.
On Tuesday, a federal grand jury indicted Dugan, establishing probable cause to advance the case. Following the indictment, her attorneys promptly sought dismissal of the charges, arguing that she is covered by judicial immunity for actions taken while performing her official duties.
“The issues with this prosecution are numerous, but fundamentally, the government cannot proceed against Judge Dugan because she holds judicial immunity for her official acts,” the motion states. “Immunity is not a matter to be resolved later by a jury; it serves as an absolute barrier to prosecution from the outset.”
In light of her arrest, Dugan has been temporarily suspended from her judicial responsibilities. The Wisconsin Supreme Court determined that her removal from duties is in the public interest.
The case draws attention to the complexities surrounding judicial conduct and the legal protections afforded to judges while they perform their official roles. As developments unfold, the implications of this case may lead to further discussions regarding accountability and immunity within the judicial system.
The legal proceedings continue to unfold, and the community closely watches the implications of these developments on the judiciary.
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