Former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in federal court after being convicted of felony obstruction.
The charge stems from an incident where she helped an undocumented immigrant evade federal immigration agents inside a courthouse.
The 67-year-old former judge was convicted by a jury on December 19.
The incident occurred on April 18, 2025, when Dugan directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents away from her courtroom.
She then led Eduardo Flores-Ruiz through a private jury door. He was later arrested outside after a foot chase.
Prosecution Seeks Significant Penalty
Federal sentencing guidelines suggest a term of 15 to 21 months in prison.
Prosecutors have not recommended a specific number of months but pushed for a strict penalty in their sentencing memorandum.
Executive Assistant U. S.
Attorney Richard Frohling wrote, "Judges are entrusted with tremendous discretion, but there is a line they cannot cross."
The prosecution emphasized that the former judge violated her oath of office and compromised public safety.
"The defendant crossed that line," Frohling wrote.
The government maintained that the gravity of the actions requires a significant penal response to uphold judicial integrity.
"This was a serious offense, and it warrants a correspondingly serious sentence," Frohling added.
According to reports by Yahoo and WISN, the prosecution summarized their objective by stating they want a "serious and meaningful sentence."
Defense Argues for Time Served
Dugan resigned from the bench on January 3 amid impeachment threats from Republican state lawmakers. In a formal letter, she explained her decision to step down.
"The Wisconsin citizens that I cherish deserve to start the year with a judge on the bench in Milwaukee County Branch 31 rather than have the fate of that court rest in a partisan fight in the state legislature," she stated.
Defense attorneys argued that Dugan has already suffered significant consequences, including the loss of her judicial career and enduring threats of violence.
The defense team stated in their sentencing memo that their client has been "punished enough," requesting a disposition of time served.
During the trial, the defense asserted that the Trump administration brought the charges forward as a political maneuver to intimidate the judiciary.
Her attorneys argued that the administration was attempting to "crush her."
Political Reactions and Legal Analysis
Following her conviction in December, Republican U. S.
Representative Tom Tiffany publicly demanded harsh penalties for the former judge on social media, stating "lock her up."
Legal analyst Dan Adams noted that U. S.
District Judge Lynn Adelman will evaluate Dugan's clean criminal record and her history of public service alongside federal guidelines.
"All of those factors play into whether or not a prison sentence is appropriate," Adams said.
Adams expressed skepticism regarding whether the final decision would result in actual prison time given the mitigating factors.
"And, you know, obviously predicting what a judge will do today is kind of dangerous. But I would be surprised if she gets a prison sentence.
I do believe that it will be a time-served disposition, as the defense is asking for," Adams stated.
Dugan, who did not testify during her trial, is expected to make her first public statements in over a year by addressing the court directly during the Wednesday hearing before Judge Adelman delivers the final sentence.
