Judge Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, is facing serious legal trouble after a federal judge rejected her claim of judicial immunity in a case involving alleged interference with federal immigration enforcement. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman ruled that Dugan’s actions do not fall under the protections typically granted to judges acting in their official capacity.

Dugan was indicted in April for allegedly helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a non-citizen defendant, evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Prosecutors claim that Dugan confronted ICE agents, advised them they needed a judicial warrant, and then conducted Flores-Ruiz’s hearing off the record. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Dugan allowing the defendant and his attorney to exit through a rear door to avoid arrest. Flores-Ruiz was later apprehended by ICE the same day.

Dugan’s legal team argued her actions were protected under judicial immunity and that the charges violate the Tenth Amendment and the separation of powers. However, Judge Adelman dismissed these claims, ruling that interfering with a federal arrest and facilitating a physical escape go beyond judicial duties.

The case, which has sparked national attention, raises significant questions about the limits of judicial immunity, especially when local and federal authorities clash over immigration enforcement. While the ruling does not determine Dugan’s guilt or innocence, it allows the case to proceed, with a federal hearing scheduled for September 3. If convicted, Dugan could face fines or prison time, though no trial date has yet been set. Flores-Ruiz remains in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings.