U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman has denied Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan’s motion to dismiss charges of obstructing federal immigration enforcement, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal battle. Dugan was arrested in April after allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant evade ICE agents, an incident that has sparked widespread public and political debate. Her defense team argued she is entitled to judicial immunity for her official acts, claiming the government overstepped its authority by charging her. Adelman’s ruling dismissed the motion, stating Dugan has not shown her actions qualify for immunity.
Adelman’s decision was rooted in the Supreme Court’s precedent, which requires the official seeking absolute immunity to demonstrate its justification for the function in question. The judge emphasized that Dugan has not met this burden, stating,