“We weren’t trying to make an example out of anyone. This was necessary to hold Judge Dugan accountable because of the actions she took”
"As you may know, we have been closely following the case of Judge Hannah Dugan of Wisconsin. Last spring, the judge was arrested after she helped an illegal immigrant escape her courthouse.
"Now a jury has found her guilty of obstructing federal immigration officials.
"The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:
Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan found guilty of felony obstruction
Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was found guilty of a felony count of obstructing federal agents seeking to make an immigration arrest outside her courtroom, a precedent-setting case that has been closely watched nationally and drawn passionate protests.
A jury of seven men and five women deliberated more than six hours before delivering a split verdict. They found the judge not guilty on a lesser misdemeanor charge of concealing a wanted person.
The case thrust Dugan, a judge for nine years, into the center of the clash between the judiciary and the Trump administration over its crackdown on illegal immigration.
“We weren’t trying to make an example out of anyone. This was necessary to hold Judge Dugan accountable because of the actions she took,” Interim U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel said. “There’s not a political aspect to it.”
Dugan attorney Steve Biskupic highlighted that the jury delivered a split verdict and the elements between the two counts are the same.
Dugan, 66, showed no emotion as the verdict was read.
“The case is a long way from over,” Biskupic said.
Biskupic said the team would be filing a motion asking Adelman to set aside the conviction, especially based on the split verdict. No sentencing hearing was set.
FOX News has more details:
Following the verdict, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Dugan “betrayed her oath and the people she served.” . . . More... Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan Found Guilty of Obstruction: Jonathan Turley . . .
"Dozens of judges signed statements in support of Dugan, including Judge Michael Luttig, U.S. Circuit Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (Ret.).I strongly disagreed with those views, excusing the clearly injudicious and unlawful conduct of Judge Dugan.Ultimately, Judge Lynn Adelman, a liberal long-standing jurist on the court, rejected half-baked arguments of judicial immunity in such actions. Twelve jurors in Milwaukee then rejected all of the atmospherics and bluster in ruling according to the law. They did what Dugan did not: they followed the rule of law rather than any personal or political impulse.Dugan’s conviction of a felony only reinforces the outrage over the Biden Administration dropping charges against Massachusetts Judge Shelley Joseph who, in November, was given simply a mere reprimand by the bar in a similar case.Dugan could now face up to five years in prison, though such a sentence is highly unlikely in her case.
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