Wisconsin Supreme Court: Hannah Dugan Law License Not Suspended

• The Wisconsin Supreme Court decided not to suspend former Judge Hannah Dugan's law license.
• Dugan was convicted of obstructing federal agents after helping a man evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in April 2025.
• She resigned from her judicial post in January and paid a $5,000 fine to avoid prison.
• The Office of Lawyer Regulation had requested the suspension, citing her conviction for a serious crime.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently decided against suspending the law license of former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, despite her conviction for obstructing federal agents.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently decided against suspending the law license of former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, despite her conviction for obstructing federal agents. This ruling came after the Wisconsin Supreme Court's Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) had formally requested the court to revoke or suspend Dugan's license, citing the serious nature of her criminal conviction.

The conviction stemmed from an incident in April 2025, when Dugan, then a sitting judge, learned that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were waiting outside her courtroom. The agents were there to apprehend a man who was in the United States illegally and was facing battery charges. In an attempt to help the man avoid the agents, Dugan postponed his hearing and then directed him to exit the courthouse through a jury room. Although the man was ultimately apprehended, Dugan's actions led to her conviction for obstruction.

Following her conviction, Dugan resigned from her judicial position in January. She was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, a penalty that allowed her to avoid a prison sentence. The Wisconsin Supreme Court had previously suspended her from her judicial duties shortly after her initial arrest related to the incident.

The Office of Lawyer Regulation, which is responsible for investigating and prosecuting attorney misconduct in Wisconsin, formally petitioned the state's highest court in July to suspend Dugan's law license. The OLR argued that a conviction for obstructing federal agents constituted a serious crime, warranting professional discipline against the former judge's ability to practice law in the state.

Despite the OLR's petition and the gravity of the underlying criminal conviction, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ultimately determined that a suspension of Hannah Dugan's law license was not warranted in this case. This decision means that Dugan retains her eligibility to practice law, even after being found guilty of a federal offense directly related to her conduct as a judicial officer.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision regarding Hannah Dugan's law license provides a notable precedent in the realm of professional discipline for legal practitioners in the state. It illustrates that even a conviction for a serious offense like obstructing federal agents, particularly when committed by a former judge, does not automatically result in the suspension of one's legal credentials.

This outcome suggests a nuanced approach by the court to lawyer discipline, where factors beyond the mere fact of a conviction may influence the final disciplinary action. For attorneys in Wisconsin, this case underscores the complex considerations involved in professional responsibility matters and the varying thresholds for disciplinary measures, even in cases involving significant legal infractions.

This decision illustrates the Wisconsin Supreme Court's threshold for professional discipline, demonstrating that even a conviction for obstructing federal agents may not automatically lead to law license suspension for a former judge. Lawyers should note the specific factors considered in such cases, which could inform their understanding of professional responsibility and disciplinary outcomes in the state.

Source: Original reporting via WKBT News 8 Now