Wisconsin Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan entered a plea of not guilty on Thursday to federal charges alleging she assisted an illegal alien evade arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials. The plea was made during her initial court appearance, drawing significant attention and protests outside the federal courthouse.
Dugan was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday on two counts: concealing a person from arrest and obstruction of proceedings. The charges stem from an incident last month where she is accused of intervening to prevent ICE agents from apprehending an illegal immigrant present in her courtroom.
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The case has quickly become a flashpoint in the ongoing national debate over immigration enforcement and the Trump administration’s approach to the judiciary.
If convicted on both counts, Judge Dugan could face a maximum sentence of six years in prison, according to the Associated Press.
The hearing on Thursday was met with a demonstration of approximately two hundred people outside the courthouse, as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Protesters voiced their opposition to Dugan’s arrest and the Trump administration’s broader immigration policies.
Following her arrest last month, the Wisconsin Supreme Court effectively suspended Judge Dugan, stating that it was in the public interest for her to be “temporarily relieved of her official duties.”
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U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi previously stated that Dugan’s arrest sent other judges a “strong message” regarding interference with immigration enforcement.
However, the arrest has also drawn criticism. Democratic lawmakers have called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Dugan’s arrest, alleging that the Trump administration is using federal law enforcement to advance its political agenda.
Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) addressed the protesters outside the courthouse on Thursday, labeling Dugan’s indictment as “trial by social media” orchestrated by President Trump.
He further asserted that it represents “the latest in his attempt to move America towards authoritarianism by activating the Justice Department to serve his political goals and bully his political enemies.”
Judge Dugan’s next hearing is scheduled for July 9, with her trial currently set to begin on July 21. The proceedings are expected to be closely watched as they navigate the intersection of judicial independence, immigration enforcement, and the separation of powers.
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