Milwaukee judge pleads not guilty in case over allegedly helping illegal migrant evade arrest

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, who allegedly helped an illegal migrant evade arrest, on Thursday pleaded not guilty to federal charges of concealing a person from arrest and obstruction of justice.

Dugan was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday after her arrest last month for allegedly obstructing the arrest of Eduardo Flores Ruiz, an illegal immigrant who was also arrested last month. Her trial is set for July 21, Fox News reported. If she is found guilty on both charges, she could face up to six years in prison and up to $350,000 in fines. 

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has temporarily removed Dugan from the bench while the court case is ongoing. She is expected to fight the charges, according to The New York Times.

Dugan allegedly helped Flores-Ruiz and his attorney escape from federal immigration officers on April 18, after learning that he was in the country illegally and that the officers were waiting to arrest him after his court appearance. 

“Despite having been advised of the administrative warrant for the arrest of Flores-Ruiz, Judge Dugan then escorted Flores-Ruiz and his counsel out of the courtroom through the ‘jury door,’ which leads to a nonpublic area of the courthouse,” according to an FBI charging document. 

Flores-Ruiz had made it outside the courthouse but was spotted by a Drug Enforcement Agency officer, who chased him before catching and arresting him.

"Judge Hannah C. Dugan has committed herself to the rule of law and the principles of due process for her entire career as a lawyer and a judge," her attorneys said, adding that she further "asserts her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court." 

Dugan's lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the case on Wednesday.