Judge Arrested For Impeding ICE Gets High Powered Legal Team, Who’s Paying For It?

A Milwaukee judge charged with helping an illegal immigrant avoid federal agents is getting high-powered legal help from conservative legal icon Paul Clement—raising major questions about who’s funding her defense and why.

Key Facts:

  • Milwaukee Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested for helping a deported Mexican national, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, evade federal immigration agents.
  • She allegedly escorted him through a restricted jury door after a court hearing, avoiding agents from ICE, FBI, CBP, and DEA.
  • Dugan has been temporarily removed from her duties by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
  • Her defense is now led by Paul Clement, former U.S. solicitor general under George W. Bush and a major conservative legal figure.
  • Dugan’s next federal court appearance is scheduled for May 15 in Milwaukee.

The Rest of The Story:

Federal authorities charged Judge Hannah Dugan with obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest after she allegedly protected an illegal immigrant from being detained.

According to the criminal complaint, Dugan actively prevented ICE and other federal agents from apprehending Flores-Ruiz by guiding him out of a secure jury door following his misdemeanor court hearing.

This incident occurred on April 18, shortly after Flores-Ruiz appeared in her courtroom on battery charges.

Federal agents were stationed outside to arrest him, but Dugan reportedly told them to go elsewhere, then discreetly helped Flores-Ruiz exit the building.

Her actions have triggered a serious federal case and attracted a legal team filled with heavyweights, including Paul Clement, who has argued over 100 Supreme Court cases and was on President Trump’s shortlist for SCOTUS nominees.

Commentary:

Judge Dugan’s actions go beyond poor judgment—they amount to aiding and abetting a fugitive.

Federal agents were executing a lawful arrest, and instead of upholding her duty as a judge, she used her position to obstruct the law.

That’s not just unethical—it’s criminal.

What’s more troubling is the top-tier legal defense she’s receiving.

Paul Clement doesn’t just take any case.

He’s one of the most elite appellate attorneys in the country, with deep ties to the conservative legal establishment.

For him to take on Dugan’s case—especially given her behavior—raises a major red flag.

Is Clement doing this pro bono?

If not, who’s paying him?

His rates are astronomical, and Dugan doesn’t appear to be the type of client who could afford such a dream team of attorneys.

Her defense also includes former U.S. Attorney Steve Biskupic and several top-tier local attorneys.

That’s an expensive legal bench.

Why would a Bush-era conservative legal titan defend someone who actively undermined federal immigration enforcement?

Is there a political motive—or is someone trying to protect broader institutional interests?

These are serious questions the public deserves answers to.

No one is above the law, especially not judges.

Dugan deserves prison for what she did.

And if anyone is bankrolling this legal defense as a way to protect her or bury the story, that’s a scandal in itself.

The Bottom Line:

Judge Hannah Dugan stands accused of obstructing justice by shielding a deported illegal immigrant from arrest.

Despite the serious charges, she’s being defended by some of the most powerful Republican-aligned lawyers in the country.

The big mystery now isn’t just what Dugan did—but who’s paying to keep her out of prison, and why.

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