Milwaukee County Judge Dugan case; new court filings ahead of hearing
New federal filings in Judge Dugan case
The federal government filed another request to deny an outside group from filing briefs in Judge Hannah Dugan?s case on Monday, June 16.
MILWAUKEE - The federal government filed another request to deny an outside group from filing briefs in Judge Hannah Dugan’s case on Monday, June 16.
What we know:
A scheduling hearing is set for this Wednesday. It comes ahead of Dugan's next court date this week.
Monday was a deadline as Dugan and the federal government filed motions in the case, ahead of the planned jury trial next month.
Milwaukee County Judge Dugan case, prosecutors urge court not to dismiss
A federal motion has been filed in response to Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan's request to dismiss the case against her.
The backstory:
It goes back to April, when Eduardo Flores-Ruiz was in Dugan's Milwaukee County courtroom. The undocumented man, who was deported once before, was there for a criminal misdemeanor case.
Federal agents showed up to arrest him.
Judge Hannah Dugan. Sketch courtesy L.D. Chukman.
Dugan spoke with the agents outside her courtroom, before she allegedly directed Flores-Ruiz to leave through a private exit.
Federal agents arrested Dugan a week later.
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Last month, a federal grand jury indicted Dugan for helping Flores-Ruiz evade arrest and obstructing federal agents.
She pleaded not guilty in the case, which has become a focal point as part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
Dig deeper:
Critics believe Dugan's arrest went too far and is trying to discourage judicial opposition.
Dugan's attorneys argue the charges are wrong, and that she has judicial immunity supported by more than 400 years of legal precedent. They have asked a judge to dismiss the case.
Supporters of Judge Hannah Dugan protest outside federal courthouse in Milwaukee
But federal prosecutors say Dugan is not above the law.
"There's a lot going on in this case," said attorney Jonathan LaVoy with Kim & LaVoy, S.C. "The issue really, in this case, comes down to whether Judge Dugan was acting in her official capacity and whether or not she's immune."
More than 130 former state and federal judges have asked the court to file in support of Dugan's motion to dismiss, while a conservative law firm has asked the court to join in support of the government.
Milwaukee County Courthouse ICE arrest; immigrant pleads not guilty
Eduardo Flores-Ruiz appeared in court for two cases on Thursday, May 8, after his recent arrest gained national attention and led to the arrest of a Milwaukee County judge.
A judge still has to rule on whether those briefs will be accepted.
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"This is a separation of powers kind of situation and I think everyone is hungry for an answer to this question, because I don't think this is going to be the last time that we deal with circuit court judges having interactions with people that are undocumented," LaVoy said.
What's next:
While the trial is set for July, it will likely be pushed back, as the parties will need time to respond before the district court decides on Dugan's motion to dismiss.
The Source: FOX6 has done significant reporting on the arrest and charges filed against Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan. FOX6 produced this story with information from the latest federal motion.