The Wisconsin judge who was arrested by the FBI for allegedly helping a man escape immigration authorities has been suspended by the state’s Supreme Court.
The FBI took Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan into custody on Friday, accusing her of “concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest” and obstructing or impeding a proceeding, according to federal charges levied against her.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued a two-page order on Tuesday detailing that she faces two federal charges and it is in the public interest to temporarily relieve her of her duties.
“It is ordered … that Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah C. Dugan is temporarily prohibited from exercising the powers of a circuit court judge in the state of Wisconsin, effective the date of this order and until further order of the court,” the justices wrote.
A state court spokesperson told the Associated Press that a reserve judge began filling in for Dugan on Monday for an indefinite period.
Dugan’s legal team has several prominent names, including former George W. Bush Solicitor General Paul Clement, who served from 2005 to 2008. Steven Biskupic, a Bush appointee from the Eastern District of Wisconsin from 2002 to 2009, is leading Dugan’s legal team.
An FBI affidavit said Dugan was “visibly angry” last week when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrived at the county courthouse and that she called the situation “absurd” before leaving the bench and retreating to her chambers. She and another judge later approached members of the arrest team inside the courthouse with what witnesses called a “confrontational, angry demeanor,” the affidavit added.
Dugan demanded they speak to the chief judge and led agents away from the courtroom to the chief judge’s office. Investigators say she returned to the courtroom and was heard saying words similar to “wait, come with me” before ushering the man, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, and his lawyer through the jury door into a private area.
JUDGE THREATENS TO CLOSE COURT AFTER FBI ARREST OF MILWAUKEE JUDGE
The action was odd, the FBI affidavit said, because “only deputies, juries, court staff, and in-custody defendants being escorted by deputies used the back jury door. Defense attorneys and defendants who were not in custody never used the jury door.”
Dugan is set to be arraigned on May 15.
