MILWAUKEE — The high-profile federal trial begins Monday of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, who is accused of helping an undocumented immigrant escape arrest by federal agents in a case that has drawn national attention from the Trump administration.
Dugan 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: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter breaks down day one of federal judge trial
Follow live updates below:
4:54 p.m. — Prosecution ends questioning. Court adjourned. Defense says about an hour-long cross-examination of Baker is expected for tomorrow morning, starting at 9:00 a.m.
4:45 p.m. — Baker is being questioned about his interaction with Judge Dugan in the hallway. Also questioned about what happened after the arrest. He says it did not go down as planned. Video evidence shows agents chasing Flores Ruiz and the attorney across 10th Street near the County Courthouse building. Baker says they planned to arrest Flores Ruiz in a public hallway after his court proceedings had concluded.
4:30 p.m. — Baker is being questioned about his team’s movement that morning and his movement throughout the sixth floor of the courthouse.
4:17 p.m. — FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Baker called to testify. Prosecution is questioning him about his background and training, and how to make arrests.
4:16 p.m. — Prosecution concludes questioning of Nimtz. Witness excused.
4:14 p.m. — Prosecution now questioning Nimtz again.
4:12 p.m. — Defense ends questioning of Nimtz.
3:59 p.m. — Defense now questioning Nimtz about documents discussed in ERO Removal Process.
3:58 p.m. — Prosecutions concludes questioning of Nimtz.
3:24 p.m. — Prosecution is showing FWO worksheet for Flores Ruiz, questioning Nimtz on what information goes on it.
3:20 p.m. — Nimtz is being questioned about operational procedures when it comes to deportation.
3:16 p.m. — Prosecution: Anthony Nimtz called to stand. He is the ERO Detention Supervisor at the Milwaukee ICE Office. He is facing questions about his background as a supervisor and his career.
2:59 p.m. — Special Agent Excused. 10-minute break.
2:54 p.m. — Prosecution now asking questions of special agent, confirming what they’ve spoken about this morning.
2:53 p.m. — Defense wrapping up the questioning of Special Agent Luker, but would like to recall her for more questioning in the future of the trial.
2:45 p.m. — Special agent being questioned about different hand signals agents were giving in the public hallway outside of Judge Dugan’s courtroom.
2:34 p.m. — Defense continues questioning Special Agent. Showing more video evidence of Flores-Ruiz and his attorney walking in the public space, and an agent following him.
2:25 p.m. — Defense asks why Flores-Ruiz wasn’t arrested during a traffic stop, as he was being surveilled by an FBI Team that morning and left for court. Special Agent doesn’t know why. Defense notes traffic stop often in contingency plan. Special Agent confirms.
2:05 p.m. — Special agent being questioned about her familiarity with the county courthouse layer prior to the investigation, specifically 6th Floor. She didn’t recall that level prior investigation.
2:03 p.m.— Prosecution ends questioning. Defense is now questioning the special agent.
1:52 p.m.— Special agent now being questioned about audio transcript from inside Judge Dugan’s courtroom that morning, starting with her first case of the day.
1:44 p.m.— Special Agent Lucker is being questioned about a similar arrest outside the judge’s courtroom that day.
Video evidence shows that arrest happening at the courthouse around the same time Flores-Ruiz was arrested. A woman was arrested by an officer. The attorney of that woman walks away. Arrest being made at 8:55 a.m. Proceedings resumed after.
1:39 p.m. – Special agent questioned on the exit of Flores-Ruiz and the attorney
Evidence shows the attorney and Flores-Ruiz, as well as a special agent, exiting the courthouse.
Video shows the screening area where people exit the courthouse and enter. It shows Flores-Ruiz, his attorney, and a special agent leaving. It shows a picture of where he exited on 10th Street, on the west side of the courthouse.
Another angle of video evidence shows him running from agents on 10th Street, heading north along the opposite sidewalk area from the courthouse.
1:27 p.m. — Trial back in session.
Special Agent Lucker on the stand. Continued questioning on video in the public hallway outside the courtrooms and the chief judge’s hallway. She’s being asked about the different people there and being asked if she knows them or who they are.
12:15 p.m. — Court breaks for lunch.
11:21 a.m.— Lots of focus by feds with FBI special agent on video from public hallway and nonpublic areas inside and outside Dugan’s sixth-floor courtroom.
10:45 a.m. — First witness is a federal Agent Lucker, assigned to work on Dugan’s case.
Jury now watching video of Dugan’s courtroom, showing rear exit jury door — a nonpublic door — and restricted hallway. Video is also shown of an investigator walking from inside Dugan’s courtroom out of a nonpublic, restricted hallway inside the courthouse.
10:40 a.m. — Court is back on the record, continues with prosecutor's first witness
10:31 a.m. — Court breaks.
10:30 a.m. – Defense ends opening statements, lasting about 25 minutes.
10:05 a.m. – Dugan’s email to colleagues April 8 is shown, asking for clarity on policy if ICE shows up from the Chief Judge.
10:04 a.m.— Dugan’s defense begins opening statements.
Dugan’s defense pushes back on the prosecution’s claims, saying there was nothing out of the ordinary about what Judge Dugan was doing inside her courtroom that day.
10:02 a.m. —Prosecutors conclude opening statements
9:35 a.m. — Prosecutors play the video of federal agents chasing Flores-Ruiz and arresting him near the courthouse.
9:33 a.m. — Prosecutors play another audio clip. This time, Dugan can be heard saying, “I’ll do it. I’ll get the heat.”
9:25 a.m. — Audio is played from inside Dugan’s courtroom in April, where someone can be heard saying there are ICE agents in the hallway.
9:15 a.m. — Opening statements begin.
9:12 a.m. — Judge Lynn Adelman addresses the jury, informs them of juror sick call.
Judge Adelman says one juror called in sick and tells the others to “please try to stay healthy.”
9:11 a.m. — Jury is now coming into the courtroom.
8:55 a.m. — Judge Dugan’s defense team and federal prosecutors arrive in the courtroom.
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