patrick.net

In case you somehow missed the excitement, here’s what actually happened. About eight days ago, back on April 18th, Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was presiding over an unremarkable criminal case involving a Mexican national charged with three counts of battery and domestic abuse. A couple of his victims were seated in the gallery waiting to testify. The accused, Jose Flores-Ruiz, was an illegal alien already deported in 2013, but it didn’t stick and he came back to commit more crimes.

Because of all the media misinformation, here is a link to the government’s complaint so you can read it for yourself.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/d2msoiwnkhjgh3pwbofyo/Doc.-01-Criminal-Complaint-USA-v.-Dugan.pdf?rlkey=7oxwjlxen2ghys7k4wcyd62xh&e=1&dl=0

Note that a federal judge signed Judge Dugan’s arrest warrant— she had ample due process. Or, if you’re more of a listener, here’s Pam Bondi’s explanation about both arrests from a Fox interview yesterday (8:00).

Anyway, before Flores-Ruiz’s hearing started, court staff snuck word to Judge Dugan got word that FBI, CBP, and DEA agents had staked out the gallery and the hallway outside the courtroom, and were waiting for the hearing to finish so they could arrest Lopez. This enraged the judge (“this is absurd!”). So she sprang up —or at least attempted a rough approximation of ‘springing’— and moved ponderously into action. She first adjourned the hearing, grabbed the judge in the courtroom next door for backup and, after demanding to see the agents’ warrant, ordered them to go to the Chief Judge’s office. They complied.




While agents were on the phone with the Chief Judge, Judge Dugan’s courtroom deputy came over and warned them the judge was trying to “push through” Lopez’s hearing, to get him out of the building while the agents were tied up talking to the Chief Judge. Meanwhile, back in her courtroom, Judge Dugan ordered Lopez and his attorney to come up to the bench, and after a frenzied, whispered conversation, personally escorted them out the courtroom’s private back door reserved for jurors and prisoners.

Lopez fled using a back elevator and sprinted off down 9th street. Fortunately, an alert agent spotted the serial crimedoer leaving. The team scrambled and a dramatic foot chase ensued. They finally tackled Lopez near State Street and 10th.

Yesterday morning, the FBI filed a federal complaint and shortly thereafter arrested Judge Dugan at the courthouse. She’s charged with obstruction of ICE proceedings (18 U.S.C. § 1505) and harboring or concealing a person to prevent discovery and arrest (18 U.S.C. § 1071)— both serious felonies.

The federal criminal complaint identifies several witnesses who saw everything that happened.

Later in the day, Judge Dugan was released without bond after making her first appearance in federal court. If convicted, she certainly can’t be a judge, and will probably lose her law license. Even without a verdict, the pending charges are a huge headache for the Chief Judge. How can Judge Dugan continue to preside over other criminal cases while she’s under indictment herself?

Will Wisconsin’s left-leaning Supreme Court remove her?