MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – The federal judge overseeing the high-profile case against Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan has handed the defense a series of major losses as trial approaches. Dugan is accused of helping an undocumented immigrant evade ICE agents by letting him exit through a back door in her courtroom.
U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman issued a stinging 21-page decision late Tuesday. The order blocked several key strategies Dugan's legal team hoped to use to defend her actions. Most notably, the court shut down the defense's attempt to turn the trial into a debate about political bias within the Justice Department.
Keeping Politics Out
Dugan's attorneys wanted to question Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel under oath. They argued that statements made by these top officials were relevant to show that the investigation into Dugan was politically motivated.
Judge Adelman rejected this argument entirely. In his ruling, he noted that neither Bondi nor Patel will be testifying in the case. He stated that injecting national political figures into the trial would only serve to confuse the jury.
Adelman wrote that the "slight probative value" of such evidence was outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice and "wasting time." Consequently, the defense is barred from eliciting statements made by the Attorney General or the FBI Director.
Judicial Immunity Shot Down
The defense also suffered a significant defeat regarding Dugan's "official acts." Her lawyers argued that she had a legal right to manage her courtroom and that her actions were within the lawful powers of her job. They claimed she was simply letting a litigant leave after a hearing.
Prosecutors countered that Dugan was trying to re-litigate a claim of judicial immunity that had already been rejected. Judge Adelman agreed with the government. He ruled that the jury must be allowed to consider all of Dugan's conduct to decide if she corruptly tried to obstruct a proceeding.
Small Victories
It was not a total loss for the defense. Judge Adelman granted a few of Dugan's requests to limit what the prosecution can say. The government is barred from arguing about whether Dugan violated the rights of the alleged victims in the underlying battery case involved in the incident.
The judge also agreed to standard procedures like sequestering witnesses and prohibiting character evidence. Judge Dugan is currently scheduled to face trial on her charges beginning December 15.
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