MILWAUKEE — Former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, following her felony conviction for obstruction of justice. The hearing will begin at 11:15 a.m. at the federal courthouse in downtown Milwaukee, with U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman presiding.

A jury found Dugan guilty on December 19, 2025. She faces a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. Adelman previously rejected attempts by Dugan to vacate the conviction.

The case stems from an April 18, 2025, incident when immigration officers arrived at the Milwaukee County courthouse to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31. Flores-Ruiz, who had reentered the United States illegally, was scheduled to appear before Dugan for a state battery case hearing. Dugan told the agents their administrative warrant was insufficient and directed them to the chief judge's office.

After the agents departed the immediate area, Dugan led Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a private jury door. Agents later spotted Flores-Ruiz in a corridor, pursued him outside, and apprehended him after a foot chase. He was deported in November 2025. FBI agents arrested Dugan at the courthouse one week later. The jury found her not guilty of a misdemeanor charge of concealing an individual to prevent arrest.

Dugan resigned in early January 2026 after nine years on the bench. The federal presentence report recommends 15 to 21 months in prison. Prosecutors noted the average sentence for obstruction cases is 16 months. Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling said, "This was a serious offense, and it warrants a correspondingly serious sentence."

Dugan's attorneys argued in a sentencing memo that she should receive no additional jail time beyond the one day spent in federal custody. Attorney Justin Padway said, "Anytime your freedom, the thing we value the most in the world, is in jeopardy. Here, she faces five years. The prosecution wants 16 to 21 months, that's concerning." Padway also stated, "Frankly, it rubs me the wrong way. I think she's being treated differently. This is a person that should be treated based on her body of work, not her position at the time of the offense." The defense plans to file an appeal regardless of the sentence.

Dugan, 67, is expected to speak at the hearing, marking her first public comment on the case in more than a year. More than 20 individuals submitted letters to the court on her behalf. This is the first instance of a state judge in Wisconsin facing trial on charges of obstructing immigration agents.