The trial of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan commenced on December 15, facing allegations of obstruction and aiding an undocumented immigrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, in evading federal agents. The case has prompted a considerable amount of scrutiny due to its implications on judicial conduct relative to immigration law enforcement, as reported by Milwaukee Independent.
According to the Milwaukee Independent, Dugan's encounter with the federal agents took place on April 18, when they were present at the courthouse to detain Flores-Ruiz, who had illegally reentered the United States from Mexico in 2013. Dugan reportedly became irate upon learning of the agents' intent and subsequently, led Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out of the courtroom through a non-public exit. The incident ended with Flores-Ruiz being captured after a brief pursuit and later deported on November 14, per federal officials.
The defense team for Dugan has raised concerns about possible juror bias influenced by the pretrial publicity. During jury selection, which began on December 11, TMJ4 reported that prospective jurors were asked probing questions about their views on the government and immigration to ensure a fair trial.
In the opening statement at the trial, prosecutors cited an alleged remark by Dugan: "I'll do it. I'll get the heat," indicating a possible awareness of the consequences of her actions. FOX 6 Now detailed that government attorney Keith Alexander spoke of the speed with which Dugan acted—within 2 minutes and 49 seconds—after being informed of the presence of I.C.E. agents. He claimed that directing Flores-Ruiz to a non-public hallway, was not a routine practice in the courtroom.
The inquiry into Dugan's responsibility has presented the court with complex questions about the boundaries of judicial immunity and the protocols for dealing with federal enforcement actions within courthouses. Dugan's defense argues that she believed she was abiding by the courthouse policies at the time and that, under federal guidelines, immigration enforcement should be conducted with minimum impact on court proceedings. The trial proceeds despite a hiccup on opening day when one of the jurors fell ill, leaving the panel with 13 members instead of the usual 14, as stated by FOX 6 Now.
