FILE - Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan leaves the federal courthouse after a hearing Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Andy Manis, file)
FILE - Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan leaves the federal courthouse after a hearing Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Andy Manis, file)
MADISON, Wis. (AP) 鈥 A Wisconsin judge charged with helping a man illegally evade immigration agents is seeking donations to fund her court defense.
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan announced Friday that she’s set up . The fund issued a statement saying that the case against her is an 鈥渦nprecedented attack on the independent judiciary by the federal government.鈥
Dugan has hired a group of high-powered lawyers led by former U.S. Attorney Steve Biskupic. She’s looking to tap into anger on the left over the case to help pay them. Dozens of people Thursday at the federal courthouse in Milwaukee, demanding she be set free and accusing the Trump administration of going too far.
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Federal prosecutors allege Eduardo Flores-Ruiz was in Dugan’s courtroom on April 18 for a hearing in a domestic violence case when Dugan learned immigration agents were in the courthouse looking to arrest him. According to court documents, Flores-Ruiz illegally returned to the U.S. after he was deported in 2013.
Angry that agents were in the courthouse and calling the situation 鈥渁bsurd,鈥 Dugan led Flores-Ruiz out a back door in her courtroom, according to an FBI affidavit. Agents eventually captured him following a foot chase outside the building.
FBI agents arrested Dugan at the county courthouse on April 25. A grand jury on Tuesday indicted her on one count of obstruction and one count of concealing a person to prevent arrest. The charges carry a total maximum sentence of six years in federal prison.
Dugan pleaded not guilty during her arraignment. Her attorneys have filed a motion seeking to dismiss the case, arguing that she was controlling movement in her courtroom in her official capacity as a judge and
The state Supreme Court Dugan following her arrest. A reserve judge has taken over her cases.
The fund statement said that Dugan plans to resume her work as a judge and they won’t accept contributions that could compromise her judicial integrity. She will accept money only from U.S. citizens but won’t take donations from Milwaukee County residents; attorneys who practice in the county; lobbyists; judges; parties with pending matters before any Milwaukee County judge; and county employees. She will accept money they would take money only from U.S. citizens.
Former state Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske will manage the fund.
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