Overview
- A federal jury returned the verdict Thursday after prosecutors said Dugan diverted agents and guided a defendant through a non‑public door at the Milwaukee County Courthouse in April.
- Jurors found her guilty of obstructing proceedings before a U.S. agency and not guilty of a misdemeanor charge alleging she concealed the defendant from arrest.
- Evidence featured courthouse video, audio in which Dugan said she would “take the heat,” and testimony from federal agents and a fellow judge who said judges should not help defendants evade arrest.
- Prosecutors called about 19 witnesses over three days; the defense called four, Dugan did not testify, and former Mayor Tom Barrett appeared as a character witness.
- Sentencing will be scheduled as Dugan remains suspended from the bench, and her attorneys signaled post‑trial challenges after arguing there was no clear local policy on ICE hallway arrests.