Judge Who Allegedly Snuck Illegal Immigrant Out Of Court Starts Fundraiser

Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan, who has been charged with assisting an illegal alien to evade arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is begging for money for her legal defense.

Dugan was indicted last week on obstruction charges after she allegedly snuck an illegal alien out a private jury door so he could avoid arrest by ICE officials.

Faced with a criminal case where she will be the defendant, not the judge, Dugan has set up a website to request funds to help with expected legal expenses, reports noted on Saturday.

“The Hannah Dugan Legal Defense Fund has been launched, and is aimed at raising resources to help Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan mount a vigorous defense against the unprecedented attack on the independent judiciary by the federal government,” the website said.

“The fund, established consistent with Wisconsin’s Code of Judicial Conduct and Code of Ethics for Public Officials and Employees, will help raise the significant resources needed to present an appropriate defense to this extraordinary attack on Wisconsin’s judicial branch of government,” it said.

“Judge Dugan intends to return to the bench to which she was elected.  Therefore, the fund’s structure provides for stringent restrictions on contributions and strives for consistency with state law regarding permissible gifts,” the site added.

“Because the criminal charges are unique to a member of the judiciary, and the prosecution poses a host of new questions of law, it will be critical for Judge Dugan to have the significant resources needed to defend herself and the integrity of an independent judiciary,” it said.

A federal grand jury indicted Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan on Tuesday following her arrest last month for allegedly shielding an illegal immigrant from federal agents.

Dugan, a Milwaukee County judge, was arrested on April 25 and charged with obstruction of an official proceeding after evidence surfaced suggesting she had protected an illegal immigrant from federal agents, according to a criminal complaint. She was also charged with concealing an individual to prevent their discovery and arrest.

The indictment followed testimony before the federal grand jury regarding allegations that Dugan attempted to help an illegal immigrant evade arrest in her courtroom, Fox News reported.

On Tuesday, a federal grand jury convened to review the indictment, hearing testimony that included statements from Eduardo Flores-Ruiz’s attorney, who has since withdrawn from the case, as well as from Dugan’s court clerk.

Also testifying was Milwaukee County Judge Kristela Cervera, a misdemeanor judge whose courtroom is adjacent to Dugan’s. The grand jury was expected to decide whether to indict Dugan before her previously scheduled preliminary court hearing.

Dugan’s attorneys told Fox News, “As she said after her unnecessary arrest, Judge Dugan asserts her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court.”

Dugan is scheduled to appear in federal court on Thursday to address charges of felony obstruction of a federal agency and misdemeanor concealing a person to help them evade arrest. During the hearing, she is expected to enter a plea regarding the charges.

The FBI arrested Dugan for allegedly concealing a previously deported illegal immigrant in her jury room to prevent him from being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

Federal agents from ICE, FBI, CBP, and DEA attempted to arrest Flores-Ruiz after his scheduled court appearance before Dugan on April 18, where he was set to face three misdemeanor battery charges for allegedly assaulting two individuals.

Dugan instructed the officers to go to the chief judge’s office. After his hearing concluded, he escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a restricted jury door, avoiding the public area where agents were waiting to facilitate his arrest, according to the complaint.

Her attorney, Craig Mastantuono, told the court last month, “Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety.”