Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan Resigns After Conviction for Helping Undocumented Immigrant Evade Arrest
Judge Hannah Dugan, who served nine years on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, resigned on January 4, 2026, following her conviction for obstruction related to aiding an undocumented immigrant to evade federal arrest. Dugan was convicted on December 19, 2025, for directing FBI and ICE agents to the chief judge's office and guiding them through a private jury entrance, allowing Eduardo Flores-Ruiz to attend his next hearing via Zoom rather than being apprehended.
Flores-Ruiz had been pursued outside the courtroom, arrested after a foot chase, and subsequently sentenced to time served for illegal re-entry before being deported. Amid Republican threats to impeach her if she did not resign, Dugan stepped down to avoid a partisan fight in the state legislature, noting in a letter to Governor Tony Evers that the federal proceedings were unprecedented and emphasizing the importance of protecting judicial independence.
Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos commended Dugan's resignation as the right course of action aligned with the Wisconsin Constitution. Ann Jacobs, chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, supported appointing a permanent judge for Milwaukee County Branch 31 during the appeals process and praised Dugan for prioritizing justice and helping to reduce political conflict over her judicial fate.
