A Wisconsin judge who was convicted of felony obstruction for helping an illegal immigrant avoid arrest has announced her resignation. Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County Circuit judge, submitted her letter of resignation on Saturday to Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, as Republicans prepared impeachment proceedings against her.
Dugan's legal troubles began in April when federal prosecutors accused her of impeding immigration officials who were attempting to arrest an illegal immigrant from Mexico outside her courtroom. According to prosecutors, Dugan learned of the federal agents' presence and then escorted the man through a back door, allowing him to attempt escape. Agents eventually apprehended the immigrant after a foot chase.
The resignation comes weeks after Dugan's Dec. 18 conviction on federal charges stemming from the April incident at the Milwaukee County courthouse. A spokesperson for Evers said the governor's office received the resignation letter and would work to fill the vacancy immediately.
In her resignation letter, Dugan reflected on her decade of judicial service, writing that she handled thousands of cases with "a commitment to treat all persons with dignity and respect, to act justly, deliberately and consistently, and to maintain a courtroom with the decorum and safety the public deserves."
However, Dugan stated that ongoing legal challenges presented too significant a distraction to continue serving. She wrote: "As you know, I am the subject of unprecedented federal legal proceedings, which are far from concluded but which present immense and complex challenges that threaten the independence of our judiciary. I am pursuing this fight for myself and for our independent judiciary."
The case has become central to President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agenda. Democrats have contended that the administration sought to use Dugan's prosecution as a deterrent to judicial resistance against immigration operations.
Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos responded positively to the resignation. Vos stated: "I'm glad Dugan did the right thing by resigning and followed the clear direction from the Wisconsin Constitution."
The underlying incident occurred on April 18 at the Milwaukee County courthouse. Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, had illegally reentered the country and was scheduled to appear before Dugan for a state battery hearing. Immigration officers arrived at the courthouse after identifying Flores-Ruiz through fingerprint records submitted during his jail processing.
When Dugan encountered the agents outside her courtroom, she questioned the validity of their administrative warrant before directing them to the office of Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley. After they left, she led Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a private jury door. Officers spotted Flores-Ruiz in the corridor and arrested him after a chase on foot.
Flores-Ruiz was deported on Nov. 13 after pleading guilty to unlawful reentry. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the removal.
The resignation removes the immediate threat of impeachment, while leaving Dugan's federal case unresolved. Dugan has maintained that she acted within her authority to manage courtroom proceedings.