Embattled Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan has officially submitted her resignation letter to Governor Tony Evers. The letter was sent on Saturday, following her conviction for obstruction last month, when she was found guilty of helping an immigrant evade federal authorities. Her resignation comes amidst Republican efforts to impeach her since her conviction on December 19, 2022.
A spokesperson for Governor Evers confirmed the receipt of Dugan's resignation letter and stated that the governor would act promptly to fill the judicial vacancy. In her resignation, Dugan reflected on her decade-long service in which she managed thousands of cases, expressing a commitment to treat everyone with dignity and to maintain judicial decorum.
However, Dugan acknowledged that the ongoing legal challenges surrounding her case had become a significant distraction. She mentioned in her letter, “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 controversy surrounding Dugan began last April, when federal prosecutors accused her of obstructing federal officers who were attempting to arrest a Mexican immigrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, outside her courtroom. Dugan allegedly confronted the federal agents and led Flores-Ruiz out through a private door after claiming that the agents' administrative warrant did not provide sufficient grounds for an arrest. A federal jury subsequently convicted her of felony obstruction.
This incident has attracted national attention, with former President Donald Trump highlighting Dugan's case as part of his broader immigration crackdown strategy, while Democratic leaders claimed that the administration was using Dugan as an example to deter judicial opposition to its immigration enforcement activities.
In response to Dugan's decision to resign, Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos praised her choice, stating, “I’m glad Dugan did the right thing by resigning and followed the clear direction from the Wisconsin Constitution.” On the other hand, Democratic Ann Jacobs, chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission board, expressed her support for Dugan and emphasized the importance of having a permanent judge in place in Milwaukee during her ongoing legal battles. Jacobs remarked, “Despite her situation, she is ever the champion of justice, wanting to remove the judiciary from a political battle over her fate.”
The events that led to Dugan's conviction unfolded on April 18, 2022, when immigration officers arrived at the Milwaukee County courthouse, where Flores-Ruiz was scheduled for a state battery hearing before Dugan. Upon confronting the agents, Dugan directed them to the office of Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley, asserting that their administrative warrant was insufficient for the arrest. After the agents left, Dugan facilitated the escape of Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a private jury door. Federal agents later spotted Flores-Ruiz in the corridor and arrested him following a foot chase. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security later confirmed that Flores-Ruiz had been deported.
