Wisconsin Supreme Court declines immediate license suspension for former judge Hannah Dugan

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has declined to summarily suspend the law license of former Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan. Instead, the court ruled that Dugan will undergo a full disciplinary hearing before any decision regarding the suspension or revocation of her license is made.

Dugan was convicted by a federal jury of obstruction for impeding a federal proceeding. The conviction stemmed from an incident where she assisted a defendant in exiting her courtroom through a side door to avoid arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Following her conviction, Dugan resigned from her judicial position and was sentenced to a $5,000 fine.

The Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation had requested an expedited suspension, arguing that the felony conviction constitutes a ‘serious crime’ under state rules. In response, Dugan’s legal team argued that a summary suspension for non-violent conduct occurring during her former judicial role would be unprecedented. Justices Brian Hagedorn and Annette Ziegler dissented from the decision to withhold immediate suspension.