Federal Judge Pauses Sentencing To Weigh Argument In Wisconsin Judge's Immigration Case Conviction

MILWAUKEE — A national judge connected Wednesday considered whether to propulsion retired a jury’s blameworthy verdict against erstwhile Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan, who was convicted of felony obstruction for helping an migrant evade national officers.

The lawsuit was an early trial of really nan courts would respond to President Trump’s sweeping migration crackdown.

Dugan had been scheduled to beryllium sentenced connected Wednesday, but U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman postponed nan proceedings indefinitely to alternatively perceive arguments astir whether to overturn her conviction.

Adelman did not norm from nan chair and did not bespeak erstwhile he mightiness rumor a decision. Dugan and attorneys for some sides near nan courtroom without commenting to reporters.

Former judge’s lawyer points to a Virginia case

Dugan’s lawyer Steven Biskupic based on that her condemnation was invalid and should beryllium overturned. He said that was basal because a national appeals tribunal successful April overturned a cardinal Virginia migration lawsuit that nan judge and prosecutors had cited successful nan Dugan case.

Biskupic based on that based connected nan 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturning that ruling, Dugan was improperly convicted, procedurally, nether a definite national law.

“Our superior statement is this was an invalid mentation of conviction,” Biskupic said.

In nan Virginia case, an migrant who was successful nan state illegally was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and later escaped. He was recaptured and indicted connected a complaint of obstructing a pending migration proceeding.

The national appeals tribunal recovered that nan ICE action did not represent a “pending proceeding,” arsenic is required nether nan national obstruction law.

Dugan’s attorneys reason that she should not person been charged because location was nary “pending proceeding” against nan migrant successful her courtroom being sought by ICE agents, only a warrant revenge for his arrest. The filing of a warrant does not represent a “proceeding” nether nan law, Biskupic argued.

Prosecutors countered that nan facts successful nan Virginia lawsuit are different and don’t use to Dugan’s. They besides based on that different cases support Dugan’s conviction.

“The tribunal should instrumentality pinch its ruling,” said Richard Frohling, acting U.S. lawyer for nan eastbound territory of Wisconsin.

In consequence to a mobility from nan judge, he contended that nan appeals tribunal was incorrect to overturn nan Virginia case. The judge besides quizzed Frohling connected what constitutes a proceeding nether nan rule and really agelong it lasts.

“It could beryllium a mates minutes, it could beryllium a mates years,” Frohling said. “It each depends connected nan context.”

Dugan’s sentencing was postponed truthful nan tribunal tin perceive caller arguments

Dugan, 67, faces up to 5 years successful situation aft a assemblage convicted her connected Dec. 19. But it is improbable that Dugan would beryllium sentenced to prison. Federal sentencing guidelines mostly telephone for probation for defendants for illustration her who person nary criminal history and are convicted of a nonviolent crime.

She resigned from her position arsenic a Milwaukee County circuit judge 2 weeks aft her condemnation amid threats of impeachment from Republican authorities lawmakers. She had been a judge for 9 years.

Dugan was coming for Wednesday’s arguments but did not speak.

The Trump management brought nan lawsuit against Dugan arsenic nan president pressed up pinch his sweeping migration crackdown. Trump’s management and his friends branded Dugan arsenic an activistic judge, while Dugan’s attorneys said she was being unfairly targeted and argued, unsuccessfully, that she was immune from being charged because she was a judge.

Dugan’s lawsuit marked nan first clip that a authorities judge successful Wisconsin went to proceedings connected charges of obstructing migration agents. She was acquitted of concealing an individual to forestall arrest, a misdemeanor.

Dugan helped an migrant wanted by ICE agents

On April 18, 2025, migration officers went to nan Milwaukee County courthouse aft learning Eduardo Flores-Ruiz had reentered nan state illegally and was scheduled to look earlier Dugan for a proceeding successful a authorities artillery case.

Dugan confronted agents extracurricular her courtroom and directed them to nan main judge’s agency because she told them their administrative warrant wasn’t capable grounds to apprehension Flores-Ruiz.

After nan agents left, she led Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer retired a backstage assemblage door. Agents spotted Flores-Ruiz successful nan corridor, followed him extracurricular and arrested him aft a ft chase. A week later, FBI agents arrested Dugan successful nan courthouse, starring her extracurricular successful handcuffs.

Flores-Ruiz was deported successful November.

Bauer writes for nan Associated Press.