Milwaukee, WI – A Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, Hannah Dugan, has been indicted in federal court on charges of obstruction and concealing an individual from arrest. She is accused of helping an undocumented immigrant avoid federal immigration agents right outside her courtroom last month.
What Is Judge Hannah Dugan Accused Of?
According to federal court documents, the incident occurred on April 18, 2025. Agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), dressed in plainclothes, were stationed in the courthouse hallway to arrest a man who had just appeared in Judge Dugan’s courtroom.
The documents state that when Judge Dugan learned of their presence, she became visibly angry, called the situation “absurd,” and left the bench. She then confronted the agents in a public hallway and told them to leave, claiming they needed a different type of warrant to make the arrest inside the courthouse.
Witnesses say Dugan involved the courthouse’s chief judge and then personally led the defendant and his attorney out of the courtroom using a jury door, rather than the main hallway exit where the ICE agents were waiting.
The agents later arrested the man outside the building after a brief foot chase.
What Charges Is She Facing?
On Tuesday, a federal grand jury formally indicted Judge Dugan on two charges:
- Obstruction of justice
- Concealing an individual from arrest
These are the same charges she was originally arrested for on April 25. She was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to appear in court again on Thursday.
Her attorney, Craig Mastantuono, said Judge Dugan maintains her innocence and looks forward to being cleared in court. He previously said her arrest was not made in the interest of public safety.
Temporarily Removed from Judicial Duties
Following her indictment, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a ruling at the end of April, saying that Judge Dugan is temporarily prohibited from performing her duties as a circuit court judge while the legal case continues.
In the court’s order, the justices said, “It is in the public interest that she be temporarily relieved of her official duties.”
Judge Dugan’s next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday, where further legal proceedings will take place. Meanwhile, her case continues to draw attention due to the unusual nature of the charges and the involvement of a sitting judge in a federal immigration matter.