Federal Magistrate Recommends Criminal Trial for Wisconsin Judge Dugan

A federal magistrate judge has recommended that the criminal case against Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan proceed, rejecting her motion to dismiss charges that she helped an undocumented immigrant evade federal immigration authorities. Dugan, who has pleaded not guilty, is charged with concealing an individual to prevent arrest and obstruction of an immigration operation related to an incident at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. She argues she is immune from prosecution due to judicial immunity and claims the federal government's actions violated Wisconsin's sovereignty, but Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph found that judicial immunity does not extend to criminal acts and that a judge’s immunity applies only to civil lawsuits for official actions. The case has drawn attention as an example of the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement efforts and its prosecution of judicial interference. The final decision on whether the case will be dismissed or proceed to trial rests with U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman, who has not yet set a trial date. Both sides continue to dispute key facts, and Dugan's defense plans to appeal the magistrate's recommendation.