“I’ll Take the Heat”: The Dramatic Unraveling of the Anti-ICE Judge’s Trial

A federal courtroom in Milwaukee has become the stage for a high-stakes legal drama that threatens to permanently alter the landscape of judicial accountability in America. Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, a seasoned figure on the bench, is currently standing trial for what federal prosecutors describe as a brazen act of obstruction: helping a defendant evade federal arrest inside her own courthouse.

While the defense initially painted a picture of a confused judge caught in a chaotic situation, the second day of testimony delivered a series of “smoking guns” that have left the defense’s narrative in tatters. From damning audio recordings to the shocking testimony of a fellow judge, the case against Dugan is no longer just about a misunderstanding—it is about a deliberate choice.

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🏛️ The Incident: A Courthouse “Escape Room”

The charges against Judge Dugan stem from a 2024 incident involving Eduardo Flores Ruiz, a defendant appearing before her on state battery charges. Federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were present in the hallway, waiting to take Ruiz into custody for deportation proceedings once his state hearing concluded.

According to federal prosecutors, Dugan didn’t just witness the arrest—she actively sabotaged it. The government alleges that Dugan:

Intervened by confronting federal agents and telling them to “get out.”

Misdirected agents by sending them to the Chief Judge’s office on a different floor.

Escorted the defendant through a non-public, “staff-only” exit to bypass the agents waiting in the public hallway.

The man was eventually apprehended after a brief chase, a pursuit the government argues would have been unnecessary had the judge followed standard legal protocol.

🎙️ The “Smoking Gun” Audio: “I’ll Take the Heat”

The most damaging evidence introduced thus far is a recorded snippet from Dugan’s own courtroom. In an audio clip played for the jury, Dugan can be heard speaking to her court reporter about the plan to usher Ruiz and his lawyer out of a side exit.

The phrase that has come to define the prosecution’s case is Dugan’s admission: “I’ll take the heat for that.”

To legal experts and the jury alike, this phrase suggests premeditation and awareness. As the prosecution argued, people do not talk about “taking the heat” for routine procedural acts. They say it when they know they are crossing a line and are prepared to face the consequences. This audio effectively dismantled the defense’s claim that Dugan was simply “confused” or acting within the bounds of her daily routine.

⚖️ Judge vs. Judge: A Colleague’s Shocking Testimony

In a rare and uncomfortable moment of judicial friction, Judge Christella Cerver, whose office is neighboring Dugan’s, took the stand as a key witness for the prosecution. Cerver’s testimony was a devastating blow to Dugan’s credibility.

Cerver described being “shocked” and “embarrassed” to be dragged into the situation. She testified that Dugan appeared “visibly irritated” by the presence of federal agents in the courthouse. Most importantly, Cerver offered a definitive moral and legal rebuke of her colleague’s actions:

“Judges should not be helping defendants evade arrest,” Cerver told the court.

This testimony is critical because it removes the “political” veneer from the case. This wasn’t just a federal agent complaining about a local judge; it was a peer—someone who wears the same robe and understands the same rules—stating that Dugan’s conduct was “beyond the pale.”

🛡️ The Defense: Immunity and Confusion

Judge Dugan’s legal team has attempted to shield her using the doctrine of judicial immunity, arguing that a judge cannot be prosecuted for “official acts” performed on the bench. However, a federal judge previously rejected this motion, ruling that judicial immunity protects a judge’s rulings, not their alleged participation in a criminal conspiracy to obstruct justice.

The defense now relies on a “fog of war” argument:

Lack of Knowledge: Claiming Dugan didn’t know the specifics of Ruiz’s immigration status.

Procedural Norms: Arguing that directing people through different exits is a common way to manage courtroom flow.

Chaos: Painting the courthouse as a confusing environment where signals were crossed.

However, as the trial progresses, these arguments are struggling to survive the weight of the evidence. Prosecutors introduced emails sent by Dugan to her colleagues expressing concern about ICE’s presence days before the incident, proving that her actions were not a spur-of-the-moment mistake, but the culmination of a pre-existing bias.

❄️ Protests and the Court of Public Opinion

Outside the courthouse, the trial has become a lightning rod for political activists. Protesters have gathered in the freezing Milwaukee cold, chanting “Hands off Judge Dugan” and framing her as a hero of the “resistance” against federal immigration enforcement.

For her supporters, Dugan is a martyr for “equal justice,” protecting her community from the perceived intimidation of federal agents. But inside the courtroom, the judge’s instructions to the jury are clear: Sympathy does not erase intent.

The case has exposed a deep rift in the American legal system: | The Pro-Dugan View | The Prosecution View | | :— | :— | | Judges should protect defendants from “ICE intimidation.” | Judges must remain neutral and uphold all laws, including federal ones. | | Courthouses should be “Sanctuaries” for all visitors. | Obstructing a lawful arrest is a criminal act of obstruction. | | Her actions were a moral stand for civil rights. | Her actions were a breach of the judicial oath and an abuse of power. |

🏁 Conclusion: A Verdict on the Rule of Law

As the trial of Judge Hannah Dugan moves toward a verdict, the stakes could not be higher. If she is acquitted, it may signal a new era where local judges feel emboldened to interfere with federal law enforcement based on personal or political beliefs. If she is convicted, it will serve as a stark reminder that the robe is not a shield against the law.

The testimony from Day Two has left Dugan in a perilous position. With her own words (“I’ll take the heat”) and her own colleague’s condemnation ringing in the ears of the jury, the “Anti-ICE Judge” is finding that the very system she presided over for years is now the one demanding her accountability.

The question remains: Did Judge Dugan act to protect the law, or did she act to become the law?