Former US Judge Escapes Prison After Helping Migrant Leave Courtroom

A former judge in the United States state of Wisconsin has avoided prison after being convicted of obstructing federal agents during an incident involving an immigrant facing arrest inside her courtroom.

Former Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was sentenced on Wednesday to pay a $5,000 fine, with the court ruling that jail time was unnecessary.

Dugan was convicted in December of obstructing a criminal proceeding after she helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national facing misdemeanour battery charges, leave her courtroom through a private exit while federal agents were waiting to arrest him.

However, she was found not guilty of the separate charge of concealing a person from arrest.

Dugan was arrested in April 2025, an action that was welcomed by supporters of President Donald Trump’s administration, who argued that the case demonstrated problems within the US justice system.

Her arrest came as Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin began moves to impeach her, after accusing her of interfering with federal immigration enforcement.

Dugan later resigned from her judicial position following the controversy.

Before sentencing, her lawyers argued that she deserved leniency because of her nine years of service as a judge and her record in the community.

Addressing the court before sentencing, Dugan said the incident should not define her career or public service. She said she was proud of her work and insisted her actions were not intended to obstruct justice.

"My acts that day were consistent with the expressed administrative and community concerns for our state courthouse," Dugan said, according to local media reports.

"My judicial acts were not done with any malicious intent."

She added: "I've been cast as both a scofflaw and a hero. I am neither. I am a public servant who was just trying to do my job."

The judge overseeing the case, District Judge Lynn Adelman, said imprisonment was not required to achieve the goals of sentencing.

"For several reasons, prison is not necessary to satisfy the statutory purposes for sentencing," Adelman said.

He described Dugan as someone who had contributed positively to the community.

Dugan had faced up to five years in prison for the obstruction conviction.

Her lawyers have said they plan to appeal the verdict.

The incident occurred on 18 April 2025, when Flores-Ruiz appeared at the Milwaukee courthouse for a scheduled hearing.

Six federal officers from the FBI, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) were present to arrest him. According to an FBI affidavit, Dugan became upset after learning about the type of arrest warrant issued and directed the officers to speak with the court’s chief judge.

During the encounter, prosecutors said Dugan directed Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer toward a private exit normally used by jurors.

However, Flores-Ruiz did not escape. Immigration officers later detained him and he was subsequently deported.

Dugan’s lawyer, Steven Biskupic, argued during the trial that the judge did not attempt to help Flores-Ruiz flee, saying she had only directed him into the hallway with his attorney.

The case became part of a wider national debate in the United States over immigration enforcement, judicial independence and the role of courts in immigration-related arrests.