A Wisconsin judge accused of covering up An undocumented man to avoid arrest by immigration authorities was found guilty of felony obstruction, according to ABC affiliate Milwaukee. WISN, who was in the courtroom during the trial.
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was charged in two-count federal indictment alleging that he obstructed the Department of Homeland Security’s official deportation procedures and knowingly hid the man from immigration authorities in court in April.
Dugan was found guilty of obstructing federal agents and not guilty of concealing an undocumented immigrant from arrest during a courtroom incident in April.
Wisconsin-based Judge Hannah Dugan arrives for the first day of the trial in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on December 15, 2025.
Sara Stathas/Reuters
Jury deliberations began Thursday afternoon.
Dugan, who has pleaded not guilty, could face up to six years in prison if convicted of the charges.
According to federal prosecutors, Dugan met with federal agents who were in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on April 18 to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who was appearing in their courtroom on an assault charge.
Prosecutors say that after speaking with agents, Dugan directed them to the chief judge’s office down the hall and then sent Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a private door in an alleged attempt to help him evade arrest for immigration violations.
Flores-Ruiz was eventually captured outside the court building after a brief foot chase.
During closing arguments Thursday, the government portrayed Dugan as a frustrated and angry judge and asked jurors to hold her accountable for the alleged criminal conduct, according to ABC affiliate Milwaukee. WISNwho was in the courtroom for the trial.
The defense, for its part, argued that the case is an “unfair prosecution,” “riddled with doubt” and based on “assumptions,” according to WISN. The defense also questioned the veracity of the audio evidence, according to WISN.
This courtroom sketch shows Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan in court as jury selection in her trial begins Dec. 11, 2025, in Milwaukee.
Adèle Tesnow/AP
During the weeklong trial, prosecutors produced transcripts and audio recordings that they said showed Dugan telling his court reporter that he would “take the heat” for showing Flores-Ruiz and his attorney the side exit, WISN reported.
Dugan did not testify during the trial.
Among the defense witnesses was former Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who was not in court that day but testified as a character witness, according to WISN.
After the defense rested on Thursday, Judge Lynn Adelman denied their request to dismiss the case, according to WISN.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court Dugan suspended in the wake of her arrest, stating in an order that it was “in the public interest that she be temporarily relieved of her official duties.”
Flores-Ruiz, originally from Mexico, was charged with illegal reentry into the U.S. He was sentenced to time served earlier this month after pleading guilty to the charge, federal court records show. DHS said last month had been deported.
