Footage depicts Milwaukee judge's encounter with ICE agents before her suspected involvement in aiding an undocumented individual, leading to her arrest.
Feds Arrest Judge Hannah Dugan for Alleged Aid to Undocumented Defendant
Let's dive headfirst into the drama unfolding in Milwaukee County, where Judge Hannah Dugan found herself in hot water with the feds after an incident at the county circuit court on April 18.
The day started routinely enough for Dugan, who was set to deal with an allegedly undocumented man, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz. But little did she know, federal agents were lurking outside her courtroom, awaiting Flores-Ruiz's arrival.
According to federal prosecutors, Dugan stepped out into the hall to challenge the agents before pointing them towards the office of the county's chief judge. The judge then reportedly sent Flores-Ruiz out a non-public door, attempting, as authorities claim, to help him evade immigration violations arrest. Two agents, one returning and one remaining, spotted the man leaving and managed to capture him after a brief foot chase.
The 65-year-old judge was arrested by the FBI a week later on charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest. Dugan pled not guilty, and her lawyers argued that she is immune from prosecution for official judicial acts.
Her defense team doesn't pull any punches, labeling her arrest "virtually unprecedented" and "entirely unconstitutional," in court filings.
Videos from over two dozen surveillance cameras at the courthouse, capturing the movements of Dugan, the plain-clothed agents, and Flores-Ruiz, were obtained through a public records request. While there's no audio on the footage, it's likely to serve as evidence in Dugan's criminal case.
At least seven cameras on the sixth floor, where Dugan's courtroom is located, captured portions of the relevant events. Six federal agents in plainclothes were seen arriving in staggered pairs shortly after 8 a.m., staking out positions throughout the hallway. One agent even sat directly across from Dugan's courtroom.
Dugan entered her courtroom through a private entrance at 8:40 a.m., and two minutes later, the agents spotted Flores-Ruiz entering her courtroom through the main entrance. About a minute later, Dugan returned to the hallway, speaking to the agents and directing them and three others down the hall. The agents allege that Dugan believed they needed a judicial warrant and told them to speak to the chief judge.
Prosecutors claim that Dugan never called Flores-Ruiz's case and directed him and his attorney out through a non-public door. However, the inside of Dugan's courtroom was never shown on the videos during the few minutes that Flores-Ruiz was there. Dugan's defense attorneys argue that the videos support both their client's innocence and guilt, depending on their viewpoint.
Well-known criminal defense attorney Dean Strang, who gained prominence through the Netflix docu-series "Making a Murderer," is part of Dugan's high-profile defense team. Her lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss the indictment, arguing that her actions, if they indeed occurred as the complaint alleges, were judicial acts for which she has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution. The trial is set for July.
It's essential to note that judicial immunity, which is based on common law, primarily protects judges from civil liability for official acts within their jurisdiction[3]. However, its application to criminal prosecution is more complex, as judges may not be shielded from criminal liability for non-judicial acts or acts outside their jurisdiction[3]. The outcome of the case will help clarify the boundaries of a judge's prosecutable conduct.
Stay tuned as this captivating legal drama unfolds!
- The capturing of videos from surveillance cameras at the courthouse will likely be used as evidence in Judge Hannah Dugan's criminal case, as she stands accused of helping an undocumented defendant evade immigration violations arrest.
- The involvement of Judge Hannah Dugan in the immigration issue has moved from the realm of general news to a topic of intense political debate, sparking discussions about the boundaries of a judge's actions and the application of judicial immunity in criminal prosecution.
- As the trial for Judge Hannah Dugan's alleged obstruction of justice approaches, crime-and-justice channels and news outlets are closely watching the high-profile case, with some analysts predicting that the outcome could have significant implications for the broader legal system.
