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.
Watch a recap of Day 2 of the trial:
Follow live updates below:
2:53 p.m. — Prosecution up again asks if sending a defendant down a private door makes it safer? "No."
Defense follows up and asks if taking a private hallway away from the public would make it safer? “Yes. Sure. I guess.”
10-minute break now.
2:44 p.m. — Defense now up.
Questioning about policy with Sheriff’s Office.
Do you remember the interview with the FBI agent? "Yes."
Do you remember telling the agent there wasn’t an official policy at the sheriff’s office, it would have to be through court purview? "Yes."
Defense questioning about security that stopped ICE agents from entering that morning. Questioning regarding different treatment of law enforcement being let into building. treated ICE agents different from FBI agents who he said showed their badges.
ICE agents can’t just come into the building? “I’m not sure.”
The logical belief is that they stopped them because they were with ICE? “Yes.”
They had to have an escort? “I do not know what they’ve been told.
“You would know if there was some kind of activity of ICE in the courthouse?” “Not particularly.”
You would know that people’s antennas were up with changes in policy on immigration? Including people you work for? “Yes.”
Defense is now questioning about judicial privileges and court happenings in the Milwaukee County Courthouse.
Defense asking about how judges might take action to make situations safer. “Correct.”
2:43 p.m. — Resumed.
Prosecution continues, and asks if arrests can be made in the public hallway by any law enforcement? "Yes."
Is there a policy directing ICE agents to chief judge office? "Not that I’m aware of."
Was there a policy on April 18? "Not that I’m aware of.
Would you see judges in their robes in the public hallway? “No.”
2:35 p.m. — Defense calls for an objection, calling it hearsay.
Both parties approach the bench. Discussing with the judge.
2:33 p.m. — Prosecution now asking DeSmet about doors that led to the private hallway, if it’s locked or unlocked, and concerns about defendants in the hallway.” He did have concerns.
Prosecution is now asking about the deputy stationed at the courtroom.
DeSmet says the deputy did not relay to him any observations about what happened in the courtroom.
Prosecution is now asking about the call with the Chief Judge.
2:29 p.m. — Prosecution asks if ICE indicated why they were in the courthouse. DeSmet testifies that ICE said they were arresting a person appearing in Judge Dugan’s courtroom.
“She told me it was illegal to arrest someone in the courtroom. Citing a Supreme Court Case," DeSmet says of Dugan. DeSmet says he asked Dugan for a court case to provide guidance to his deputies.
Prosecution asks if she provided the court case to him. DeSmet says she said she was busy and had to get back to the courtroom.
Prosecution now asks if arrests are common at the courthouse. DeSmet testifies that they.
2:21 p.m. — Prosecution calls Sgt. David DeSmet of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office to the stand. He says he has 31 years with the sheriff's office.
Prosecution asking about the safety of the courthouse and policy at the courthouse.
Prosecution questioning about the screening process policy when it comes to plainclothes law enforcement. They do not have to be searched when coming in when bringing proper identification.
Prosecution: Does this apply to all law enforcement? “Yes.”
Prosecution is now asking about that day. April 18. The public safety officer told them about ICE in the screening station. They did not need an escort, according to DeSmet.
2:16 p.m. — Prosecution now up again. Asks Cervera if it was an unusual day, to which she says it was.
2:14 p.m. — Defense asks about pleasant interaction with Vasconsuelos and why Cervera Googled’ his name. She says she doesn't recall when she did that.
Defense is now pressing about Cervera’s text messages with her sister who deals with family law. Cervera says she texted her sister that ICE was in the building. “It was more about what was happening in our country at that point in time, about sweeping arrests.” Her sister did not respond to the text.
Defense notes Cervera didn't include warning her sister about ICE in her grand jury statement. Cervera responds that she "didn’t think it was significant."
Defense rests.
2:12 p.m. — Defense asks Cervera about private hallway usage. She testified that it would be a "unique set of circumstances" to walk a defendant down that hallway.
2:10 p.m. — Cervera testified that after the events at the courthouse, Dugan told her that “she was in the dog house with Carl," and said it had to do with "helping that guy."
Prosecution rests.
2:07 p.m. — Prosecution asks about a sign on Judge Dugan's door. According to Cervera, a sign was put up on April 14 stating that any attorney, witness coordinator or other court officials who know that or believe a person feels unsafe coming to court could request a Zoom hearing.
Cervera told prosecutors she felt this was connected to ICE.
2:01 p.m. — Cervera is asked if she was part of helping Flores Ruis through the hallway, and she said, "no."
1:45 p.m. — Video continues showing Dugan and Cervera walking toward the two agents and confronting them. Prosecution asks Cervera about interactions and why Dugan goes directly to Vasconsuellos.
“When she first spoke to him. She asked what his business was, who he was.”
Cervera said he identified himself and said he was there to apprehend someone who was unlawfully in the US. Cervera described his tone as cooperative.
Cervera said Dugan's irritation "seemed to progress" into anger as she asked about the warrant. She noted Dugan repeated herself three times, saying, "It has to be a judicial warrant. It has to be a judicial warrant. It has to be a judicial warrant.” Cervera said she felt Dugan was expressing her views when she said this.
1:41 p.m. — Prosecution pulls up video from 8:43 a.m. showing two doors, one leading to a restricted hallway. It shows Dugan and Cervera leaving the hallway. Cervera says she did not want to wear her robe in the hallway and that it was uncommon.
1:38 p.m. — Prosecution asks when she saw Judge Dugan again. Cervera says she thought something bad had happened. She says the two went into chambers, where Dugan told her to keep her robe on, that ICE was there, and that they needed to check a warrant.
Cervera says it was hard to hear and that Dugan was walking in front of her. She also says she was a little confused and unsure why she was summoned with Dugan.
1:36 p.m. — Prosecution shows video to Cervera of two agents in the hallway. Cervera says she did not know the two men. Dugan and Cervera enter the frame after moving their cars due to baseball-sized hail.
1:27 p.m. — Prosecution asks Cervera about her background and the types of cases she handles. She says her courtroom is on the sixth floor, next to Dugan’s courtroom.
1:25 p.m. — Circuit Court Judge Kristela Cervera is called to the stand. She was with Dugan on the day of the arrest.
12:50 p.m. — Court resumes with Vasconcellos on the stand again.
The trial continues with the defense cross-examining an ICE official. The official is asked if they knew Flores Ruiz was leaving while he was in the chief judge’s office.
When asked if the chief judge gave them permission to conduct a hallway arrest, the ICE agent said they did not recall the judge explicitly saying they “cannot effect an arrest in the public hallways.”
The ICE agent also testified that they did not recall Dugan asking about the warrant.
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 Vasconcellos, a deportation officer. He filed the warrant for Flores Ruiz’s arrest.
The warrant, signed April 17, 2025, is shown on the screen. Vasconcellos 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 questioning; prosecutors start second questions.
Vasconcellos clarifies that he was told to “get out,” not to go to the chief judge's office. He says he was never in courtroom 615 that day.
11:15 a.m. — Defense begins cross-examination.
The defense hands the witness a copy of his previous statements and brings up a memo he wrote to Chicago that does not list what door Flores came out of.
The witness says Dugan told him to get out and motioned for him to go to the chief judge's office, and that is what he did.
11:14 a.m. — Prosecutors wrap first questions.
10:42 a.m. — Court resumes with 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 and had 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. — Defense finishes questioning, and prosecutors proceed with more questions.
10:18 a.m. — The 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.
Defense points out that pictures were taken of the agents and asks if being noticed changes their arrest plans, to which the agent answers no. The agent also discusses his interaction with Judge Dugan, which was brief.
10:02 a.m. — Questions from the prosecution end; defense begins cross-examination.
Defense starts by asking how these arrests are planned and about shifts in resources under the Trump administration. Defense also asks about ICE policies and tensions between those policies and the courthouse. The agent says he did not factor that tension into the arrest.
10:00 a.m. — Another video is shown of 10th Street, where the arrest took place.
9:40 a.m. — Philip Jacquline, a 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-examination of FBI Agent Baker.
9:18 a.m. — Defense now asking about when the FBI agent spoke with Judge Dugan.
Defense is trying to establish the sequence of events in the chief judge’s office, including the presence of other agents and when they left. Defense is reviewing 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 Flores Ruiz.
9:02 a.m. — All 13 jurors are present.
9:01 a.m. — Day 2 begins with the cross-examination of Special Agent Baker, who testified for federal prosecutors yesterday.
8:55 a.m. — Judge Dugan is in the courtroom with her defense team.
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