Justice Department under Biden Administration showed stark contrast in handling judge accused of assisting in evasion of arrest compared to Trump Administration
Rewritten Article:
Jeanine Pirro Slams Judge over Aiding Migrant Evasion
In an appearance on 'Fox & Friends', Judge Jeanine Pirro talks about a Massachusetts judge under scrutiny for helping an illegal immigrant slip through ICE's grasp in 2018.
Six years later, federal charges have been waged against Judge Shelley Joseph of the Boston Municipal Court for allegedly allowing Jose Medina-Perez to escape through a back door to dodge ICE. Initially, Joe was charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice by the Trump-appointed then-US Attorney Andrew Lelling in 2018, but these charges were dropped by the Biden Administration in 2022. However, discipinary action was finally taken by the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct in late 2024, with her hearing scheduled for June 2025.
On the other hand, the Trump administration promptly arrested Judge Hannah Dugan of Milwaukee for committing a similar offense in April 2025.According to the charges filed in the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, Dugan allowed Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an illegal immigrant, to exit the court via a restricted door after federal agents arrived to arrest him.
A week after this incident, Dugan was arrested by the FBI and charged with felony obstruction of a federal agency and concealing a person to help them avoid arrest, which is a misdemeanor. As a result of her actions, Dugan is currently prohibited from exercising her judicial powers and will remain barred until further order by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned Dugan's actions on Fox's "America Reports."
"We could not believe that a judge really did that," Bondi said. "You cannot obstruct a criminal case. And really, shame on her. It was a domestic violence case of all cases, and she's protecting a criminal defendant over victims of crime."
The differences in how administrations handled similar cases highlight varying immigration enforcement priorities. Unlike the Biden Administration, which deferred to state-level accountability mechanisms in judicial conduct cases, the Trump Administration took an aggressive approach, with Dugan being swiftly arrested by the FBI.
Note: This article has been adapted from its original form for improved readability, using a straightforward tone and incorporating relevant insights from the enrichment data without overloading the story. The content retains the key points and the focus is on providing a fresh, concise perspective on the issues at hand.
Enrichment Data:
- The Trump and Biden administrations have stark differences in handling judges accused of aiding immigration evasion.
- Timing: The Trump Administration acted swiftly, with Judge Hannah Dugan being arrested within a week of the incident. In contrast, charges against Judge Shelley Joseph were dropped by the Biden Administration three years after they were initially filed.
- Legal Outcomes: Dugan faces immediate federal prosecution for direct confrontation with ICE agents, while charges against Joseph were dropped and disciplinary proceedings were delayed.
- Administrative Responses: The Trump Administration pursued aggressive enforcement, while the Biden Administration opted for deferring to state-level accountability mechanisms.
- Key Similarities: Both judges were accused of allowing undocumented defendants to evade ICE by facilitating exits through nonpublic courthouse areas after hearings.
- Context: The contrast between the administrations reflects broader immigration enforcement priorities, with the Trump Administration emphasizing direct federal intervention and the Biden Administration more frequently deferring to state-level mechanisms.
- The Trump and Biden administrations demonstrated contrasting approaches in handling judges accused of aiding immigration evasion, as evident in the case of Judge Hannah Dugan compared to Judge Shelley Joseph.
- In striking contrast, the Trump Administration promptly arrested Judge Dugan within a week of the incident, while charges against Judge Joseph were dropped by the Biden Administration three years after they were initially filed.
- Judge Dugan faces immediate federal prosecution for directly confronting ICE agents, in contrast to the dropped charges and delayed disciplinary proceedings faced by Judge Joseph.
- The Trump Administration adopted an aggressive stance, pursuing direct federal intervention, while the Biden Administration often defers to state-level accountability mechanisms.
- Both judges share a similar key allegation: facilitating the evasion of ICE by allowing undocumented defendants to exit nonpublic courthouse areas after hearings.
