In brief
Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County Circuit Judge, stands trial for obstruction and concealment related to an immigration case. Prosecutors allege she helped Mexican immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz evade federal authorities by allowing him to exit a courtroom through a back door. The trial, which could lead to a six-year prison sentence if convicted, is viewed within the context of current political tensions surrounding immigration policies. Dugan maintains that she was acting in accordance with courthouse procedures.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Federal prosecutors commenced their case against a Wisconsin judge on Monday, as Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan confronts charges of helping a Mexican immigrant evade immigration enforcement.
The trial for Dugan on obstruction and concealment counts is set to include opening statements, followed by testimony from around two dozen witnesses, and is anticipated to last through Thursday. She could face up to six years in prison if convicted on both charges.
The case is a part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown, with critics alleging that Dugan is being utilized as a political pawn to deter judicial opposition. Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, a strong Trump supporter, called for severe repercussions in a recent tweet.
Political figures claim that this trial reflects a broader effort by the administration to intimidate judges who make decisions against its immigration policies. Dugan previously reported receiving threatening flyers, sent to her home, amidst escalating tensions over her judicial actions.
According to an FBI affidavit, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who had been deported in the past, reentered the country and was involved in a battery case before Dugan. When immigration officers attempted to arrest him in April, Dugan's courtroom practices allegedly obstructed the agents' actions. Following instructions she provided to court personnel, Flores-Ruiz was led out of the courthouse through a back door.
While the prosecution maintains that Dugan acted unlawfully, her defense argues that she adhered to legal protocols outlined by the Milwaukee County Chief Judge prior to the incident.
Dugan's argument for immunity from prosecution was rejected earlier this year by U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman, stating that judges do not possess inherent immunity from criminal prosecution.
