Federal Judge Arrested

Date: April 24, 2025

Signed by: Special Agent Lindsay Schloemer,

Why it Matters

This article highlights the tension between an individual's moral compulsion, whether proper or misguided, and their legal obligations. Very rarely do judges get charged with obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest. This is a rather extraordinary measure taken by the executive branch. It highlights the executive branch's seriousness on immigration and potential consequences for those that do not comply.

Executive Summary

It's important to note that at this time these are allegations in a criminal complaint justifying Judge Hannah C. Dugan's arrest. These allegations have not been adjudicated.

This document is an affidavit in support of a criminal complaint against Judge Hannah C. Dugan. It alleges that Judge Dugan obstructed a federal proceeding and concealed an individual subject to arrest. The affidavit, prepared by FBI Special Agent Lindsay Schloemer, details events surrounding the attempted arrest of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a defendant facing domestic abuse charges who was unlawfully present in the United States.

Key Allegations

• Background and Purpose of Affidavit
• The affidavit supports probable cause that Judge Dugan violated Title 18, U.S.C. Sections 1505 (obstruction of proceedings) and 1071 (concealing a person to prevent arrest) (pg. 2, para. 4).
• Details of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz’s Immigration Status
• Flores-Ruiz was charged with three counts of Battery-Domestic Abuse in Milwaukee County Circuit Court (pg. 2, para. 6).
• ICE determined that Flores-Ruiz was a citizen of Mexico who had been deported in 2013 through Nogales, Arizona, and had not received permission to re-enter the United States (pg. 2, para. 7).
• Fingerprint analysis confirmed that the individual charged with domestic violence matched the deported Flores-Ruiz (pg. 3, para. 8).
• An immigration official issued a warrant for his arrest for removal proceedings, requiring him to contest reinstatement of his prior deportation if arrested (pg. 3, para. 9).
• Planning and Coordination with Courthouse Officials
• ICE agents, working with FBI, CBP, and DEA agents, planned to arrest Flores-Ruiz outside Courtroom 615 after his court appearance, in accordance with normal law enforcement procedures for public safety (pg. 3-4, paras. 10-11).
• Deportation Officer A and CBP Officer A presented themselves to courthouse security, explaining their purpose and presenting credentials and badges. They agreed to wait until after the hearing to make the arrest (pg. 4, para. 13).
• A shift sergeant from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office and a courtroom deputy were informed of the arrest plan. Agents were allowed to wait outside the courtroom without escort (pg. 4-5, paras. 13-16).
• The courtroom deputy notified a shift sergeant after being informed of the agents’ presence, following courthouse procedures (pg. 5, para. 17).
• Judge Dugan’s Diversion of Arrest Team and Use of Jury Door
• After learning from a public defender attorney about ICE’s presence, Judge Dugan left the bench, visibly upset, and confronted the federal agents in the hallway (pg. 6-7, paras. 20-23).
• Judge Dugan demanded to see a judicial warrant, which the agents did not have because immigration warrants are administrative. She insisted the agents leave or speak with the Chief Judge (pg. 7, para. 23).
• Judge Dugan and Judge A escorted the federal agents to the Chief Judge’s office area, moving them away from Courtroom 615 and leaving DEA Agent B (who was not recognized) behind (pg. 7-8, para. 24).
• After diverting the agents, Judge Dugan returned to her courtroom, directed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to approach her, and escorted them through the courtroom's “jury door”,  a restricted area typically reserved for deputies, court staff, juries, and in-custody defendants (pg. 9-10, paras. 29-30).
• Notable details:
• Flores-Ruiz was seen sitting in the jury box, unusual since Judge Dugan typically prohibited anyone but jurors from sitting there (pg. 9, para. 29).
• Defense attorneys and non-custody defendants almost never used the jury door for exits (pg. 9, para. 29).
• Flores-Ruiz’s Escape and Arrest
• After leaving the courtroom through the jury door, Flores-Ruiz and his attorney reached the hallway unnoticed by most of the diverted arrest team (pg. 11, para. 33).
• DEA Agent B spotted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney moving quickly toward the south elevator bank, deliberately choosing an exit farther from Courtroom 615 to avoid detection (pg. 11, para. 33).
• Flores-Ruiz and his attorney took an elevator to a lower floor and exited through the courthouse’s 9th Street public entrance (pg. 11, para. 33).
• Agents chased Flores-Ruiz after spotting him near the courthouse flagpole.
• Flores-Ruiz fled on foot down the street but was apprehended by FBI and DEA agents near the intersection of West State Street and 10th Street, approximately 22 minutes after he was first spotted in the courthouse hallway (pg. 12, para. 34).
• Conclusion and Charges
• The affidavit concludes that Judge Dugan obstructed a federal proceeding and concealed Flores-Ruiz, violating federal law (pg. 13, para. 35).

Source: https://fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/editorialfiles/2025/04/25/DuganCriminalComplaint.pdf