Wisconsin judge accused of obstructing federal agents pleads not guilty

MILWAUKEE — The Wisconsin state judge accused of impeding immigration agents at a Milwaukee courthouse last month pleaded not guilty Thursday morning during a brief appearance in federal court.

Prosecutors have said that Judge Hannah C. Dugan violated federal law when she directed an defendant in the country illegally who was being sought by immigration agents through an alternate exit from her courtroom. Dugan, who was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday, is seeking the dismissal of the charges against her and has asserted that her actions were protected by judicial immunity.

A lawyer entered the plea on behalf of Dugan, who was seated next to him in the federal courtroom Thursday.

The Justice Department’s decision to arrest and charge a sitting state judge has drawn sharp criticism from many Democrats, lawyers and former judges, who have described the case as an attempt to intimidate the judiciary. Top Trump administration officials have defended the prosecution.

The prosecution of Dugan quickly became synonymous with the Trump administration’s broader immigration crackdown and its warnings to local officials that they must not stand in the way of deportation efforts. Since President Donald Trump returned to office, the Justice Department has sued state and local governments that limit cooperation with immigration agents and has announced investigations of some elected Democrats over their immigration policies.

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