Jury comes to split verdict in trial of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan
Updated: 8:43 p.m. Dec. 18, 2025
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- After six hours of deliberating, a federal jury has come to a split verdict in the trial of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan.
As to count one, concealing a wanted person, a misdemeanor, the jury found Dugan not guilty.
As to count two, obstruction of a federal agency -- a felony -- Dugan was found guilty.
Judge Hannah Dugan's defense team sent out the following statement about the verdict:
“While we are disappointed in today’s outcome, the failure of the prosecution to secure convictions on both counts demonstrates the opportunity we have to clear Judge Dugan’s name and show she did nothing wrong in this matter. We have planned for this potential outcome and our defense of Judge Dugan is just beginning. This trial required considerable resources to prepare for and public support for Judge Dugan’s defense fund is critical as we prepare for the next phase of this defense.”
Interim US Attorney Brad Schimel of the Eastern District of Wisconsin spoke at the podium after the jury reached the split verdict.
Updated: 7:13 p.m. on Dec.18, 2025
MILWAUKEE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The jurors in Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan's trial are 4.5 hours into their deliberation on the federal charges against her Thursday evening, Dec. 18. The charges against Dugan allege that she intentionally helped a man escape federal agents.
The jury is now seeking clarity on whether the government must prove that Dugan knew the identity of the person whose arrest she was trying to block.
The defense is arguing that's a key element in establishing guilt.
Judge Adelman is conferring with clerks as of 7:16 p.m. Thursday evening.
Updated: 4:15 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2025
MILWAUKEE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The jurors in Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan's trial continue to deliberate her fate Thursday afternoon, Dec. 18. The jury is weighing to federal charges against Dugan that allege she intentionally helped a man escape federal agents.
A verdict could be reached at any time, so everyone is on standby at the federal courthouse.
The jury of seven men and five women went into the jury room at 2:24 p.m.
Earlier in the day, closing arguments were delivered with the prosecution going first.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Watzka told the jury a judge's oath doesn't come with an exception for laws that are unpopular.
Watzka used intentional language to portray Dugan's actions, words like "rounding up" the agents, planning an "escape route," then "ensuring the coast was clear."
Watzka said Dugan knew agents would find Eduardo Flores Ruiz, so Dugan intended to sneak him down the stairs.
Watzka pointed the audio recording where Dugan said "down the stairs."
Watzka said that recording offers the most significant insight into Judge Dugan's mind.
Watzka added there is no way to spin "down the stairs" to make it sound better, and throughout the argument, Watzka used strong language to characterize Dugan's character, calling Dugan "a frustrated and angry judge who decided to take matters into her own hands."
Defense attorney Jason Luczak then delivered his closing argument, trying to plant many seeds of doubt about the credibility of the witnesses and the evidence.
Luczak also tried to make this case about people's feelings about the government and overreach.
Luczak told the jury, "You're the ultimate check on government's power." He then went witness by witness, picking away at any perceived inconsistencies, trying to show the jury there is reasonable doubt.
Luczak accused Judge Kristela Cervera of lying during his testimony.
Luczak also asked the jury why Dugan would get Cervera to join her in the hallway if Dugan wanted to obstruct the agents.
"Why get a witness to your criminal activities?"
Luczak also contrasted Dugan's actions with Flores Ruiz's domestic violence charges, asking rhetorically, "You think she's going to risk her career for a person like that?" And later, "Give me a break. That did not happen."
Luczak called the case an overreach and said justice is not what the government is seeking.
The last word went to the prosecution in its lengthy rebuttal.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Frohlings said Luczak used distractions disguised as a defense.
Frohling closed by saying, "Distractions may have worked on April 18, but they won't work on Dec. 18."
Whenever a verdict is reached, it will take some time to call the parties back into the courtroom before it is read aloud.
Published: 11:30 a.m. Dec. 18, 2025
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Judge Hannah Dugan's defense team rested its case Thursday morning, Dec. 18, after calling four witnesses to the stand. Dugan did not testify in her own defense. Closings arguments got underway afterward.
The defense moved quickly and finished by mid-morning. After an early lunch break, the prosecution began its closing argument. The belief is the jury will begin deliberations by mid-afternoon.
All along, Judge Dugan's defense has tried to show she was simply following orders when she directed the federal agents out of the hallway and into the chief judge's room.
Though no official policy was in place, a draft policy was, and the defense argues that's what Dugan was following.
On the witness stand, fellow Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Laura Gramling Perez recounted a lengthy email chain between the judges that occurred over several days.
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Laura Gramling Perez
It discussed recent ICE activity, uncertainty with how to handle it, and a desire for a policy to govern those interactions.
Judge Gramling Perez wrote it sounded like other recent detentions fell within the law.
But, Gramling Perez said, "I would strongly advise we develop a court-wide policy governing ICE actions."
The defense says Dugan was trying to comply with shifting rules and the clearest evidence of her state of mind is an email she sent 10 days before the incident.
Dugan wrote it would be helpful to identify concerns and develop a consistent set of protocols.
She added in the email, "We are in some uncharted waters with some very serious and even potentially tragic community interests at risk."
To show the seriousness of the situation back then, another witness -- Judge Katie Kegel -- read an email she sent that said, "People have been snatched up out of my gallery while waiting for their hearing."
And showing there was uncertainty, public defender Maura Gingerich said she took photos of the agents in the hallway that day so that her manager could ask the chief judge for further guidance.
The last witness was former Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who has known Dugan for more than 50 years.
Former Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
Barrett testified to Dugan's character saying, "I think she is extremely honest." But the prosecution pointed out he was not at the courthouse April 18.
The prosecution is unsure how long its closing arguments will take, but the defense will go immediately after.
Following a short rebuttal, jury instructions will be read and then deliberations will begin.
There is a belief a verdict could come sometime Thursday afternoon.