Former Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan was spared from prison Wednesday for ushering a Mexican defendant out of her courtroom to evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. A federal judge fined her $5,000 and cited her otherwise law-abiding life in issuing the sentence.
Dugan, 67, was convicted of felony obstruction in December. Her lawyers argued during her trial that President Donald Trump's administration sought to "crush" Dugan in an effort to ensure judicial compliance with the ICE strategy of targeting immigrants as they showed up for court hearings.
What the Right Is Saying
Prosecutors argued that Dugan violated her oath as a judge and put both law enforcement and the public at risk. Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling wrote in a sentencing memo that "judges are entrusted with tremendous discretion, but there is a line they cannot cross" and that "the defendant crossed that line."
Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, running for Wisconsin governor, urged authorities to "lock her up" in a social media post following her conviction. Republican state lawmakers had previously threatened impeachment proceedings, labeling her an activist judge before she resigned in January.
A prosecutor acknowledged during the hearing that Dugan had "experienced collateral damage because of her conduct," but maintained that "judges can't choose to disregard the law." Prosecutors did not recommend a specific sentence but stated that obstruction cases typically result in 16-month sentences and called for a "correspondingly serious" punishment.
What the Left Is Saying
Dugan's defense team portrayed the prosecution as an overreach by the Trump administration aimed at intimidating judges who resist federal immigration enforcement. Her attorneys argued she had been "punished enough" through her resignation from the Milwaukee County Circuit Court bench, where she served for nine years, and ongoing threats of violence against her and her family.
Two Marquette University law professors spoke on her behalf during sentencing proceedings. Gregory O'Meara, a Jesuit priest, described Dugan as a defender of oppressed people and said he did not believe there was a need for punishment. "Hannah models what it means to be a Christian," O'Meara stated.
Dugan addressed the court herself following the professors' testimony. "I have been cast as both a scofflaw and a hero. I am neither. I am a public servant who's just trying to do my job," she said, adding that her actions on April 18, 2025 were not done maliciously but rather to maintain the "decorum and safety of the courtroom."
What the Numbers Show
Dugan received a $5,000 fine rather than any jail time. Federal presentence guidelines had recommended 15 to 21 months of imprisonment for felony obstruction, though judges are not bound by those guidelines.
Jurors found Dugan guilty of felony obstruction but acquitted her of a misdemeanor charge of concealing an individual to prevent arrest. The case marked the first time that a state judge in Wisconsin went to trial on charges of obstructing immigration agents.
The defendant at the center of the case, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, was arrested by ICE following a foot chase outside the courthouse and deported in November 2025 after being found to have illegally reentered the United States. Dugan spent part of one day in federal custody following her arrest.
The Bottom Line
The sentencing represents a resolution to a case that drew national attention as a test of judicial independence amid heightened federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Dugan's defense team has indicated they plan to appeal her conviction regardless of the sentence imposed.
Federal Judge Lynn Adelman stated during the hearing that while Dugan made a "bad decision," he did not believe prison was warranted for "a few minutes of conduct" by someone who had "dedicated her life to public service." The judge noted that Dugan's actions did not ultimately prevent ICE agents from arresting Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse. Dugan said she has been forced into retirement from public life due to threats against herself and her family.