A Wisconsin decide accused of concealing an undocumented man to stop his arrest by immigration authorities was discovered responsible of felony obstruction, in response to ABC Milwaukee affiliate WISN, which was within the courtroom for the trial.
Milwaukee County Circuit Courtroom Decide Hannah Dugan was charged in a two-count federal indictment that alleges she obstructed official Division of Homeland Safety removing proceedings and knowingly hid the person from immigration authorities at a courthouse in April.
Dugan was discovered responsible of obstructing federal brokers and never responsible of concealing an undocumented immigrant from arrest throughout an April courthouse incident.
Wisconsin-based Decide Hannah Dugan arrives for the primary day of trial in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, December 15, 2025.
Sara Stathas/Reuters
Jury deliberations received underway on Thursday afternoon.
Dugan, who pleaded not responsible, may withstand six years in jail if convicted as charged.
In line with federal prosecutors, Dugan encountered federal agents who had been on the Milwaukee County Circuit Courtroom on April 18 to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who was showing in her courtroom on a battery cost.
Prosecutors say that after chatting with the brokers, Dugan directed them to the chief decide’s workplace down the corridor after which despatched Flores-Ruiz and his legal professional out a private door in an alleged try to assist him evade arrest on immigration violations.
Flores-Ruiz was in the end captured outdoors the courtroom constructing after a quick foot chase.
Throughout closing arguments on Thursday, the federal government portrayed Dugan as a annoyed and indignant decide and requested the jurors to carry her accountable for the alleged legal conduct, in response to ABC Milwaukee affiliate WISN, which was within the courtroom for the trial.
The protection, in the meantime, argued that the case is an “unjust prosecution” that’s “riddled with doubts” and based mostly on “assumptions,” in response to WISN. The protection additionally questioned the veracity of the audio proof, in response to WISN.
This courtroom sketch depicts Milwaukee County Circuit Decide Hannah Dugan in courtroom as jury choice in her trial begins Dec. 11, 2025 in Milwaukee.
Adele Tesnow/AP
Through the weeklong trial, prosecutors produced transcripts and audio recordings that they stated confirmed Dugan telling her courtroom reporter that she would “get the warmth” for displaying Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer the facet exit, WISN reported.
Dugan didn’t testify throughout the trial.
The protection witnesses included former Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who was not on the courthouse that day however testified as a personality witness, in response to WISN.
After the protection rested on Thursday, Decide Lynn Adelman denied their request to dismiss the case, in response to WISN.
The Wisconsin Supreme Courtroom suspended Dugan in the wake of her arrest, stating in an order that it was “within the public curiosity that she be quickly relieved of her official duties.”
Flores-Ruiz, a local of Mexico, was charged with illegal reentry into the U.S. He was sentenced to time served earlier this month after pleading responsible to the cost, federal courtroom information present. DHS stated final month he had been deported.
