Democrats are slamming the arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, with lawmakers calling the move unprecedented and dangerous. In contrast, some Republicans are labeling the move as a necessary response to judicial overreach.
Dugan was taken into federal custody Friday morning at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. She faces two felony charges — obstruction and concealing an individual. They stem from an incident in which she allegedly helped undocumented immigrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz avoid arrest by federal immigration officers.
"This is stuff I expect from Third World countries," said Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) to Axios, adding that "the Trump administration again is breaking norms in how it's dealing with immigration, the legal system, and normalcy.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, called the move "a whole new descent into government chaos," while Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) said there "absolutely" needs to be an investigation, citing concerns of judicial intimidation:
"On the face of it, this is dangerous and outrageous and it is designed to intimidate our judiciary"
Others lawmakers, including Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), whose district includes Milwaukee, raised questions about due process, noting that Dugan, a sitting judge with no history of evading law enforcement, could have been summoned without a public arrest:
"Federal law enforcement coming into a community and arresting a judge is a serious matter and would require high legal bar. I am very alarmed at this increasingly lawless actions of the Trump Administration, and in particular ICE, who have been defying courts and acting with disregard for the Constitution"
Republican lawmakers, on the other hand, offered a contrasting view. "Judges are not supposed to write the law, and they certainly are not above it," said Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) to Axios, while Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) added, "Lock 'em up!!" and Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) stated that "if she broke the law, she needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent."
According to a post by FBI Director Kash Patel, Dugan is accused of "intentionally misdirecting" ICE agents during an attempted arrest inside her courtroom:
FBI Director Kash Patel appears to have deleted this post announcing the arrest of a Wisconsin judge. pic.twitter.com/3q0omNsNFO
— Tom Dreisbach (@TomDreisbach) April 25, 2025
Judge Dugan, 65, was elected to the bench in 2016 and has served in Branch 31 of the Milwaukee Circuit Court, where she primarily handles misdemeanor cases.
Dugan has not made a public statement, but during her appearance before court on Friday, her attorney stated that she "wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest," adding that it "was not made in the interest of public safety."
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