Ex-Milwaukee Judge Dugan avoids prison in ICE obstruction case

MILWAUKEE —

Former Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan will not serve jail time or probation after a federal judge on Wednesday imposed a $5,000 fine in her sentencing hearing.

U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman said prison was not necessary in Dugan’s case, despite federal sentencing guidelines calling for incarceration. “For several reasons, prison is not necessary to satisfy the statutory purposes for sentencing,” Adelman said from the bench.

He said Dugan did not appear to have correctional treatment needs and pointed to what he described as a lifetime of service to others, especially people who are vulnerable or in need.

“This is a person who has done a lot of good for our community,” Adelman said.

Adelman said the Supreme Court requires judges to consider each defendant as an individual and that “the punishment should fit the offender and not merely the crime.” He acknowledged the guidelines called for prison, but noted they are advisory.

He described Dugan as “a defendant who made a bad decision in the moment” and said her conduct amounted to “a few minutes of conduct” by someone who had otherwise dedicated her life to public service.

The judge said probation also was not necessary, saying Dugan had no apparent need for supervision to deter future violations. Instead, he imposed a $5,000 fine.

Before sentencing, Dugan addressed the court directly.

“My acts that day were consistent with the expressed administrative and community concerns for our state courthouse. My judicial acts were not done with any malicious intent,” Dugan said.

She also told the court: “I’ve been cast as both a scofflaw and a hero. I am neither. I am a public servant who was just trying to do my job.”

Dugan said that during her nine years as a judge, she tried to uphold justice, the law and the Constitution while maintaining decorum and safety in her courtroom.

“For nine years as a judge I have strived to do my best to uphold justice, to uphold our laws and constitution, to have a courtroom of decorum and safety,” Dugan said. “I worked hard to uphold these duties every day and I had those same intentions on that day.”

Defense attorneys asked the court for time served, while prosecutors argued the circumstances involved an abuse of trust and broader institutional harm.

Dugan was convicted in the courthouse arrest case tied to Eduardo Flores-Ruiz. Prosecutors said she directed federal agents away from her courtroom and then escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a private jury door, allowing him to temporarily avoid arrest before he was later taken into custody outside.

“He certainly made the right call in not sentencing Judge Dugan to prison,” said one of Dugan’s defense attorneys, Jason Luczak. “She’s lost so much throughout this process. The collateral consequences to her were great, and we appreciate that the judge took that into consideration when he sentenced her to a fine.”

Luczak said the defense team plans to file an appeal. They have 14 days to file the notice to appeal, according to federal law.

“I think the appellate process will play out and we will be successful, and we look forward todoing that,” said Luczak.