Responses to the arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan

From The League of Women Voters, Wisconsin and 21 undersigning organizations:

As organizations committed to protecting democracy, civil rights, and equal justice in Wisconsin, we are deeply troubled by the news of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan’s arrest by federal agents at the courthouse.

Judge Dugan is a dedicated and principled public servant, guided by fairness, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to her community. She—like everyone on American soil—is entitled to the full protections of due process and an opportunity to defend herself in a court of law. 

The manner of Judge Dugan’s arrest is unacceptable. The arrest of a sitting judge in the middle of a courthouse, creating headlines and fueling questions, raises serious concerns about the overreach of the President’s administration and the threat our democracy faces. Judges must be free to uphold justice without concern of retaliation or intimidation. That is why we have checks and balances and separation of powers. Our courts must remain places where all people, including immigrants, feel safe to seek justice.

We are especially concerned about the growing presence of federal immigration enforcement actions at courthouses across Wisconsin and around the country. When courthouses become sites of detention, particularly for those from immigrant communities, it undermines access to justice. Victims may hesitate to report crimes. Witnesses may stay silent. Families may avoid seeking legal help altogether. This creates a chilling ripple effect that harms everyone—eroding faith in institutions meant to protect and serve us all. 

Everyone in Wisconsin, regardless of immigration status, deserves access to our courts without fear. Ensuring public confidence in our legal system requires that our courthouses remain places of justice, not jeopardy. 

Moments like this test our values. We believe in a Wisconsin where everyone’s rights are respected, the law is applied fairly, and public trust in our justice system is earned through transparency and accountability—not fear or duress.

We are monitoring this situation closely. We urge investigators to proceed with integrity– upholding the essential principles of justice and due process that protect all our fundamental freedoms.  We ask our communities to stay engaged and committed to the principles of fairness, truth, and justice.
 

From Governor Tony Evers:

“In this country, people who are suspected of criminal wrongdoing are innocent until their guilt is proven beyond reasonable doubt and they are found guilty by a jury of their peers—this is the fundamental demand of justice in America. 

“Unfortunately, we have seen in recent months the president and the Trump Administration repeatedly use dangerous rhetoric to attack and attempt to undermine our judiciary at every level, including flat-out disobeying the highest court in the land and threatening to impeach and remove judges who do not rule in their favor.

“I have deep respect for the rule of law, our nation’s judiciary, the importance of judges making decisions impartially without fear or favor, and the efforts of law enforcement to hold people accountable if they commit a crime. I will continue to put my faith in our justice system as this situation plays out in the court of law.”

 From Senator Tammy Baldwin:

“In the United States, we have a system of checks and balances and separations of power for damn good reasons. The President’s administration arresting a sitting judge is a gravely serious and drastic move, and it threatens to breach those very separations of power. Make no mistake, we do not have kings in this country and we are a Democracy governed by laws that everyone must abide by. By relentlessly attacking the judicial system, flouting court orders, and arresting a sitting judge, this President is putting those basic Democratic values that Wisconsinites hold dear on the line. While details of this exact case remain minimal, this action fits into the deeply concerning pattern of this President's lawless behavior and undermining courts and Congress's checks on his power.”