$5,000 was the full sentence U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman imposed on Hannah Dugan, rejecting prison after her December felony obstruction conviction.
Adelman said Dugan's conduct lasted only minutes, did not prevent ICE from arresting Eduardo Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse, and was a sharp break from an otherwise law-abiding life.
Prosecutors had urged a serious sentence, noting federal guidelines of 15 to 21 months and saying judges cannot disregard the law even if they oppose immigration enforcement tactics.
Dugan, 67, said she acted to protect courtroom decorum and safety, not maliciously, and her lawyers argued she had already paid heavily through resignation, threats and public fallout.
The case — the first Wisconsin state judge tried for obstructing immigration agents — grew out of Dugan's April 2025 effort to steer Flores-Ruiz out a private jury door; he was later caught and deported.