MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan is under scrutiny as her trial on obstruction and concealment charges nears its conclusion. Prosecutors allege that she facilitated a Mexican immigrant's evasion of federal authorities.
The prosecution concluded its arguments this week after three days of testimony. Defense attorneys for Dugan have lined up four witnesses for Thursday, with the possibility of Dugan taking the stand herself. Closing arguments are expected shortly thereafter.
These charges against Dugan are seen as a reflection of the broader tensions surrounding President Donald Trump’s stringent immigration policies. Supporters of Dugan argue that she is being unfairly targeted as an example to deter judicial resistance against aggressive immigration enforcement.
Prosecutors are attempting to illustrate that Dugan deliberately interfered with federal agents attempting to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who was in court for a state charge. Agents had planned to arrest him as he left Dugan's courtroom but were thrown off by her actions.
Witnesses indicated that Dugan confronted federal agents outside her courtroom, demanding they report to the chief judge's office while she concurrently led Flores-Ruiz out through a secluded exit, allegedly stating she would “take the heat” for her actions.
The prosecution introduced audio evidence and testimonies that suggest coordinations between Dugan and fellow Judge Kristela Cervera during this incident could have jeopardized the arrest team’s operations.
In rebuttal, Dugan's attorneys claimed that the judge was adhering to proposed courthouse protocols intended to protect courthouse staff from immigration inquiries. They suggested that the arrest team could have apprehended Flores-Ruiz at multiple points without Dugan’s interference.
As the trial progresses, the implications of this case both on Dugan's career and future judicial independence continue to unfold amidst the ongoing national debate surrounding immigration enforcement practices.
