GOP lawmakers react to Milwaukee judge arrest, impeachment proceedings

MILWAUKEE Wis. (CBS 58) -- Top Republicans are closely monitoring the arrest of a Milwaukee County judge after signaling they may seek to remove her.

On Friday, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said if charges against Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan result in a conviction, the GOP-controlled Legislature "will act."

That means Assembly Republicans could try and impeach Dugan after she was charged with obstructing immigration officers and concealing someone to prevent arrest.

Last week, Dugan was taken in handcuffs by federal officials for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid federal immigration enforcement.

"I think what the judge did was reprehensible," said Rep. Bob Donovan, a Republican from Greenfield. "There's a lot of individuals upset with this situation."

Donovan said he'd support impeachment proceedings to remove Dugan but acknowledged it could be an uphill battle without Democratic votes.

"Any impeachment discussion or effort is going to have to have support from Democrats…I doubt it would appear many of them would be supportive of it," he said.

To impeach a sitting judge, the Assembly would need a majority vote followed by two-thirds of the state Senate's votes to convict.

Lawmakers could also use another process known as "removal by address."

Senate President Mary Felzkowski declined to say which option Republicans may pursue because Dugan's case is an ongoing investigation.

"It depends on where this case goes," Felzkowski said. "It really does. I'm not happy in any way, shape or form with her actions."

Dugan's arrest sent shockwaves to those involved in the judicial system, including Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley.

"We're all concerned with how it transpired," Ashley said. "That's not a comfortable situation for any person to have an experience like that."