MILWAUKEE — The high-profile federal trial of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan continues Tuesday.
RELATED: Day 1 in the books for federal trial of Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan
Dugan is accused of helping an undocumented immigrant escape arrest by federal agents in a case that has drawn national attention from the Trump administration. She is facing charges of obstruction and concealing an undocumented immigrant to evade arrest by ICE agents.
The case stems from an incident in April involving Eduardo Flores Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant who was scheduled to appear in Dugan's court. Flores Ruiz eventually pleaded guilty in September to being in the U.S. illegally and was deported Nov. 14.
Follow live updates below:
11:55 a.m. — Witness recounts moments pursuing Flores Ruiz
The chief judge was not in the office that morning and was placed on speakerphone. At the beginning of the call, he learned Flores Ruiz was leaving the court hallway, so he told them to follow him.
11:48 a.m. — Witness says he has never been approached by judges in the hallway
11:27 a.m. –- New witness takes the stand
The witness is Joseph Dasconsellos, a deportation officer. He was the one who filed the warrant for Flores Ruiz’s arrest.
The warrant is shown on the screen, which was signed on April 17, 2025. Dasconsellos says the plan was to go to the Milwaukee County courthouse, spread out, and arrest Flores Ruiz after his court hearing.
11:24 a.m. –- Defense ends questions, prosecutors start second questions
Clarifies that he was told to “get out,” not to go to the chief judge's office. Says that he was never in courtroom 615 that day.
11:15 a.m. –- Defense begins cross-examination
The defense hands the witness a copy of the witness statements he made. Defense brings up a memo that the witness wrote to Chicago that does not list what door Flores came out of.
Witness says Dugan told him to get out, and motioned for him to go to the chief judge's office, and that’s what he did.
11:14 a.m. — Prosecutors wrap first questions.
10:42 a.m. — Court resumes with the questioning of another witness.
The witness is Joseph Zoraw, a supervisor with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, assigned to the FBI’s Milwaukee Division.
Zoraw was a member of the arrest team that day. He recounts the day of the arrest, saying he was not in uniform with a concealed weapon. He also says he has made arrests at the courthouse before.
10:24 a.m. — Court goes on break.
10:19 a.m. — The defense finishes questioning, and prosecutors proceed with more questions.
10:18 a.m. — Arrest of Flores Ruiz is discussed
The agent says he did not tell Dugan if he was there for an arrest.
10:12 a.m. – Defense says the agents stood out, despite attempts to blend in.
Points out that pictures were taken of the agents. Asks if being noticed changes their arrest plans, to which the agent answers no.
Discuss his interaction with Judge Dugan, which was short.
10:02 a.m. — Questions end from the prosecution, defense begins cross-examination.
The defense starts with asking about how these arrests are planned, and asks about the shift in resources because of the Trump Administration. Also asks about ICE policies and the tension between ICE policies and the courthouse.
The agent says that he was not factoring that tension into his arrest.
10 a.m. — Another video is shown of 10th Street, where the arrest took place.
9:40 a.m. — Philip Jacquline, special agent with the FBI, takes the stand. He was involved in the assignment to arrest Flores.
9:37 a.m. — Federal prosecutors question Agent Baker.
9:36 a.m. —Defense wraps up cross with Federal Agent Baker.
9:18 a.m. — Defense now asking about when FBI agent was talking with Judge Dugan.
Defense is trying to establish the sequence of events of what happens when in the chief judge’s office and other agents, and then leaving the office. Defense is going through the courthouse video step by step with the FBI agent.
9:05 a.m. – Prior arrests at the courthouse are discussed.
One person was arrested after leaving the courtroom near the elevator. A second person was arrested before EFR.
9:02 a.m. —- All 13 jurors are present.
9:01 a.m. —- Day 2 begins with the cross-examination of special FBI agent Baker, who was on the stand yesterday for federal prosecutors.
8:55 a.m. — Judge Dugan is in the courtroom with her defense team.
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