A Wisconsin judge was arrested by the FBI for stopping federal agents from arresting a man who was in the country illegally. The judge was accused of helping the man escape after a court hearing.
The incident happened on April 18 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. Federal agents were there to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented migrant from Mexico. He was already in court for a domestic battery case, meaning he was accused of hurting someone at home. When the agents tried to take him into custody, the judge allegedly stepped in and made it harder for them.
Instead of allowing the agents to arrest Flores-Ruiz openly, the judge reportedly told them they needed to talk to the chief judge’s office. The agents were told they could only arrest him in a public area of the courthouse. Taking advantage of the confusion, the judge then walked Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer to a private exit. From there, he got on an elevator, ran out of the courthouse, and fled from the agents. After a short chase, he was caught and arrested.
Federal authorities were very upset. They said the judge had not only disrespected the law but also put the lives of others at risk by letting a suspect leave in such a chaotic way.
FBI Steps In, Judge Faces Federal Charges
The FBI arrested the judge early in the morning at the courthouse grounds. The judge was charged with obstructing a federal proceeding and hiding a person to prevent his arrest. These are serious charges that could lead to more legal problems for the judge.
During the first court appearance, the judge was not kept in jail but was released without having to pay bail. Prosecutors said they were not asking to keep the judge locked up while the case moved forward.
The judge’s lawyer said in court that the arrest was unfair and unnecessary. He said the judge regrets the situation and believes the arrest was not made to protect public safety but for other reasons.
This event happened just as tensions between the federal government and some state judges were rising. Judges across the country have been clashing with the government over immigration policies, especially under the leadership that wanted to increase deportations of undocumented immigrants.
Political Leaders and the Public React
The judge’s arrest caused a lot of different reactions from political leaders and the public. Some Democratic leaders said this was another example of the government trying to scare and punish judges who don’t agree with its strict immigration rules. They said standing up against unfair policies should not be treated as a crime.
On the other side, Republican leaders said the judge’s behavior was reckless and dangerous. They argued that by helping a suspect escape, the judge broke the law and made the situation worse. Some said the judge should have known better and deserved the charges.
Meanwhile, Flores-Ruiz, the man at the center of the situation, was found to have been deported before. Officials matched his fingerprints to prove who he was. They said he had hurt two people badly enough to send them to the hospital. Now, he faces not only criminal charges but also quick deportation.
Adding to the controversy, another judge and his wife in New Mexico were also arrested recently in a separate immigration-related case. They were accused of helping a suspected gang member hide evidence by smashing a cell phone and deleting social media accounts.
The judge from Milwaukee has been on the bench since 2016 and was re-elected in 2022. She was well known in her community before this sudden and shocking twist. Her court staff declined to make any comments about the situation.
The case will now continue in federal court in Milwaukee under the title “United States v. Hannah C. Dugan.”