The arrest of Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan should stand as a warning. Democrats say it’s a scare tactic to deter judges from blocking the crackdown. In a way, it is, but not on purpose. Justice being served should always be a deterrent to those debating if they should commit a crime. Dugan was charged in April with concealing someone from ICE to prevent arrest and obstruction. Federal prosecutors filed the complaint directly, bypassing a grand jury. Other judges will be thinking twice if they’re tempted to do the same. BREAKING UPDATE: Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan CHARGED by federal grand jury for impeding an ICE operation and attempting to hide an illegal immigrant. FAFO!!!! pic.twitter.com/ksbvYplUop — I Meme Therefore I Am (@ImMeme0) May 13, 2025 Local CBS News reports: The arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan escalated a clash between President Donald Trump’s administration and local authorities over the Republican’s sweeping immigration crackdown. Democrats have accused the Trump administration of trying to make a national example of Dugan to chill judicial opposition to the crackdown. Prosecutors charged Dugan in April via complaint with concealing an individual to prevent arrest and obstruction. In the federal criminal justice system, prosecutors can initiate charges against a defendant directly by filing a complaint or present evidence to a grand jury and let that body decide whether to issue charges. A grand jury still reviews charges brought by complaint to determine whether enough probable cause exists to continue the case as a check on prosecutors’ power. If the grand jury determines there’s probable cause, it issues a written statement of the charges known as an indictment. That’s what happened in Dugan’s case. Her case is similar to one brought during the first Trump administration against a Massachusetts judge, who was accused of helping a man sneak out a courthouse back door to evade a waiting immigration enforcement agent. That case was eventually dismissed. GRAND JURY: “On or about April 18, 2025, HANNAH C. DUGAN did corruptly endeavor to influence, obstruct, and impede the due and proper administration of the law…” They’re throwing the book at her. pic.twitter.com/gBQWlJLFSQ — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 13, 2025