The federal trial of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan has seen the prosecution rest its case, following three days of testimony in which they charged the judge with obstruction and concealing an undocumented immigrant. According to a report from FOX6, Dugan allegedly sought to aid Eduardo Flores-Ruiz's evasion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during a court appearance in April. The jury was presented with courtroom audio capturing a conversation about escorting Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out of the courtroom, with Dugan heard saying, "Down the stairs," and later, "I'll get the heat."
Witness testimony provided insights into the court's normal procedures and reactions to the ICE agent's presence. Dugan's court reporter, Joan Butz, expressed her displeasure upon learning of ICE's presence, saying, "That pisses me off." In a video shown to the jury, Flores-Ruiz's attorney, Mercedes De La Rosa, testified that the encounter with Dugan left her "scared and freaked out." Testimony revealed the case was called "right away" and handled "off the record," suggesting atypical procedural moves, as WISN reports.
FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Baker, during cross-examination explained prior courthouse arrests, detailed agents' plans for Flores-Ruiz's arrest, and shared his seamless entry to the building on the day of the attempted arrest. Court officials, including Chief Judge Carl Ashley, were among witnesses who spoke about how the court had been navigating ICE agents showing up at the courthouse. Ashley's testimony underscored the tensions between federal immigration actions and state court functions, as he worked on court-wide policies in response to immigration arrests, as per WPR.
During the proceedings, Dugan’s clerk, Alan Freed, spoke out strongly against the presence of ICE agents and even called one agent a “fascist.” Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Melissa Buss said that Dugan often went out of order when calling cases in her courtroom. Adding to the tension, court reporter Joan Butz offered to escort Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out through the correct door, showing how tense and sensitive the situation had become due to the immigration issue, as noted by WPR.
As the defense gears up to present its case, they have indicated that Judge Dugan might not testify, though the decision could change as the trial progresses. If convicted of the felony charge, Dugan could face up to six years in prison. The trial is expected to conclude shortly, with the jury potentially hearing closing arguments by Thursday afternoon.
