$5,000 was the only sentence U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman imposed on former Milwaukee judge Hannah Dugan, rejecting prison despite guidelines calling for 15 to 21 months.
Adelman said Dugan — convicted in December of felony obstruction — was an otherwise good person who made a bad split-second decision, noting ICE still arrested Eduardo Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse.
April 18, 2025, was the basis of the case: Dugan confronted immigration agents over an administrative warrant, sent them to the chief judge's office, then led Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer out a private jury door.
Dugan told the court she was protecting courtroom decorum and safety, while prosecutors said she abused her office, created risks for officers and the public, and showed judges cannot disregard the law.
January brought Dugan's resignation after impeachment threats from Wisconsin Republicans; her lawyer said she will appeal, while Dugan says the prosecution damaged judicial independence and forced her from public life.