Former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was sentenced to probation on Wednesday for obstructing a federal immigration arrest, avoiding prison time in a case that drew national attention to the limits of judicial authority. Dugan, 54, pleaded guilty in March to one count of obstructing a federal officer after she helped a Mexican immigrant evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in 2024.
Background and charges
According to court documents, Dugan learned that ICE agents were planning to arrest a 38-year-old Mexican immigrant who had appeared in her courtroom on an unrelated matter. She then warned the man about the impending arrest and helped him leave the courthouse through a restricted exit. The immigrant, who had a prior deportation order, was later arrested at his home. Dugan was charged in February 2025 and resigned from the bench shortly afterward.
Prosecutors sought a sentence of six months in prison, arguing that Dugan abused her position as a judge to undermine federal law. 'She used the power of her robe to obstruct justice,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Johnson said in court. 'This was not a moment of compassion; it was a deliberate act of defiance.'
Sentence and impact
U.S. District Judge William Griesbach sentenced Dugan to two years of probation, 200 hours of community service, and a $5,000 fine. 'While her actions were unlawful, they were motivated by a misguided sense of compassion, not malice,' Griesbach said. The sentence sparked mixed reactions, with immigrant advocacy groups praising the leniency and immigration enforcement advocates criticizing it as too light.
Dugan apologized in court, saying, 'I deeply regret my actions and the harm they have caused. I believed I was protecting someone from an unjust system, but I now understand that I broke the law.' The case has fueled ongoing debates about judicial discretion and immigration enforcement, with some legal experts arguing that judges should not be immune from consequences for obstructing federal officers.
