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yesterday

FBI Arrest of Wisconsin Judge Sparks Judicial Backlash and Public Protests

Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan faces federal charges for aiding an undocumented immigrant, as legal experts question DOJ conduct and judges demand clarity on judicial independence.

FBI Director Kash Patel posted a picture on X of Judge Hannah Dugan, the Milwaukee County Circuit judge who was arrested by the FBI on Friday, April 25, and charged in federal court for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest. Portions of the image were obscured in Patel's original post.
Demonstrators protest in front of the federal courthouse where Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan appeared in front of a judge after being arrested by the FBI as she arrived for work at the Milwaukee County Courthouse on April 25, 2025, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Overview

  • Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by the FBI on obstruction and concealment charges after allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant evade ICE agents in her courtroom.
  • FBI Director Kash Patel's public posting of Dugan's perp walk photo has drawn criticism for potentially violating DOJ confidentiality policies.
  • Wisconsin judges, including Sawyer County Judge Monica Isham, have expressed alarm, with Isham threatening to halt court proceedings unless judicial protections are clarified.
  • Hundreds of protesters rallied in Milwaukee, accusing the Trump administration of undermining judicial independence and using intimidation tactics against the judiciary.
  • Legal experts and political figures remain divided, with some defending the charges as legally sound while others decry the arrest as an authoritarian overreach.