Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan Trial Set for December 15

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan is set to go on trial beginning December 15 for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, evade arrest by federal immigration agents in April. Dugan is charged with obstruction after reportedly directing Flores-Ruiz to exit through a back door of the courthouse when ICE agents sought to detain him. Jury selection is scheduled for December 11 and 12, with Dugan's defense team seeking to explore potential jurors' political views given the case's national attention and political sensitivity, including prominent social media posts from Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel asserting that no one is above the law. The judge has pleaded not guilty and unsuccessfully sought dismissal of the case on grounds of judicial immunity, with the court rejecting this defense by citing recent Supreme Court precedent clarifying limits on immunity for official acts. The trial will take place in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin before Judge Lynn Adelman, who also oversees jury selection. The case has sparked political debate, with some Democrats condemning the arrest as a threat to judicial independence, while the DOJ and Attorney General emphasize accountability under the law.