{"id":2522900,"date":"2025-12-18T17:41:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T22:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-hannah-dugans-illegal-immigrant-escape-case-heads-to-jury-for-ruling\/"},"modified":"2025-12-18T17:44:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T22:44:49","slug":"judge-hannah-dugans-illegal-immigrant-escape-case-heads-to-jury-for-ruling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-hannah-dugans-illegal-immigrant-escape-case-heads-to-jury-for-ruling\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge Hannah Dugan&#8217;s illegal immigrant escape case\u00a0heads to jury for ruling"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjudge-hannah-dugans-illegal-immigrant-escape-case-heads-to-jury-for-ruling%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2522900&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan is on trial facing two federal obstruction charges after allegedly helping an illegal immigrant and the immigrant&#8217;s lawyer evade arrest by allowing them to leave her courtroom through a non-public back door. After a four-day federal court trial, the case has been sent to a 12-person jury for deliberation. The prosecution called multiple witnesses, including a fellow judge who criticized Dugan&#8217;s actions, as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/public-radio-reporter-arrested-for-firebombing-police-cars\/\" title=\"Public Radio \u201cReporter\u201d ...ed For Firebombing Police Cars\">law enforcement officials<\/a> and the immigrant&#8217;s attorney, who described the situation as unusual and unsettling. Dugan&#8217;s defense, including testimony from former Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, argued that the trial is unprecedented and an attempt to damage her reputation.The Department of Justice emphasized that no one, including judges, is above the law. Dugan has been suspended from her judicial duties and faces up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine if convicted. The jury is expected to reach a verdict soon.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Judge Hannah Dugan&rsquo;s illegal immigrant escape case&nbsp;heads to jury for ruling<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2213607\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The obstruction charges against Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan&nbsp;are in the hands of a federal jury after the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3918007\/judge-hannah-dugans-trial-for-illegal-immigrant-escape-case-begins-with-fbi-agent-on-the-stand\/\">four-day trial<\/a> in the illegal immigrant escape case concluded in a federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/courts\/\">court<\/a> on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>The 12-person jury will decide whether to find Dugan guilty on two obstruction charges after she allegedly helped an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illegal-immigrants\/\">illegal immigrant<\/a> and his lawyer evade federal immigration officers by letting them exit her courtroom out of a non-public back door. The jury received the case shortly after 3 p.m. Eastern time, the same day the defense rested its case and both sides presented their closing arguments.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3926499\/oversight-democrats-release-epstein-photos-accuse-doj-facilitating-white-house-cover-up\/\">Oversight Democrats release new Epstein photos and accuse DOJ of facilitating &#8216;White House cover-up&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3925740\/doj-struggles-to-build-cases-against-anti-ice-protesters-in-liberal-cities\/\">DOJ struggles to build cases against anti-ICE protesters in liberal cities<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3925642\/government-admits-fault-dca-crash-wholly-avoidable-tragedy\/\">Government admits fault in Reagan National Airport crash: &lsquo;Wholly avoidable tragedy&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The Justice Department spent most of Monday, along with all of Tuesday and Wednesday, laying out its case against Dugan, calling several witnesses, including one of Dugan&rsquo;s fellow judges on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Judge Kristela Cervera, who also serves on the same state court, offered damaging testimony against Dugan, including saying she was &ldquo;mortified&rdquo; that people may have thought she worked with Dugan to help the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-arrests-milwaukee-judge-hannah-dugan-over-obstructing-ice-operations\/\" title=\"FBI ...s Milwaukee judge ... over obstructing ICE operations\">illegal immigrant evade arrest<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fox6now.com\/news\/milwaukee-county-judge-hannah-dugan-trial-day-2-recap\">according to<\/a> local Milwaukee news station WITI.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Judges shouldn&rsquo;t be <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >helping defendants evade arrests<\/a>,&rdquo; Cervera said.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ also had several law enforcement witnesses take the stand to discuss the unusual nature in which Dugan conducted herself with the federal officers seeking to arrest the illegal immigrant before her court.<\/p>\n<p>Mercedes De La Rosa, the lawyer of the illegal immigrant whom Dugan allegedly helped evade arrest, testified on Wednesday, saying the judge instructing her to exit the courtroom via the back door was an &ldquo;unusual&rdquo; situation and that she felt &ldquo;freaked out,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fox6now.com\/news\/milwaukee-judge-dugan-trial-live-wednesday-121725\">according to<\/a> WITI.<\/p>\n<p>Dugan&rsquo;s lawyer quickly laid out their case on Thursday morning, calling only four witnesses, including former Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who defended Dugan as &ldquo;extremely honest.&rdquo; The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trial-for-judge-accused-of-helping-illegal-immigrant-evade-arrest-set-for-december\/\" title=\"... for judge accused of helping ... set for December\">indicted judge&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s lawyers stressed in their closing arguments that it was a &ldquo;very unprecedented trial.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They are trying to make an example of Hannah Dugan,&rdquo; Jason Luczak, Dugan&rsquo;s lawyer, said, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jsonline.com\/live-story\/news\/local\/2025\/12\/18\/judge-hannah-dugan-trial-in-milwaukee-day-4\/87817848007\/\">according to<\/a> the <em>Milwaukee Journal Sentinel<\/em>. &ldquo;They are trying to besmirch her honest reputation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In its closing arguments, the DOJ told the jury to put aside personal opinions about Immigration and Customs Enforcement and immigration operations, and look at the facts of the case, saying &ldquo;no one is above the law, not even those who wear judicial robes,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fox6now.com\/news\/milwaukee-judge-dugan-trial-live-thursday-121825\">according to<\/a> WITI.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3918007\/judge-hannah-dugans-trial-for-illegal-immigrant-escape-case-begins-with-fbi-agent-on-the-stand\/\">JUDGE HANNAH DUGAN&rsquo;S TRIAL FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ESCAPE CASE BEGINS WITH FBI AGENT ON THE STAND<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Dugan was suspended from her duties as a Milwaukee County circuit judge by the Wisconsin Supreme Court shortly after she was federally charged earlier this year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Dugan&rsquo;s charges have a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $350,000 fine if convicted. The jury could reach a verdict on the charges against Dugan at any time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Judge Hannah Dugan&#8217;s obstruction case goes to jury verdict<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2522901,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25352744672468.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[62040,53534,58798,69054,41394],"class_list":["post-2522900","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-escape-case","tag-illegal-immigrant-2","tag-judge-hannah-dugan","tag-jury-ruling","tag-legal-trial"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25352744672468.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2522900","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2522900"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2522900\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2522904,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2522900\/revisions\/2522904"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2522901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2522900"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2522900"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2522900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}