FBI Files Charges Against Judge Dugan Following Courthouse Incident

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has filed charging documents against Judge Hannah Dugan following an incident involving federal immigration agents at a courthouse. According to the FBI document filed on Thursday, Judge Dugan was arrested on Friday after an apparent confrontation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers who were attempting to execute an administrative warrant. The document describes a sequence of events where Judge Dugan appeared to interfere with federal agents' duties in the courthouse.

The charging document details how Judge Dugan allegedly directed members of an arrest team away from Courtroom 615 and toward the Chief Judge's office after being advised of ICE's presence. A courtroom deputy reported observing Judge Dugan in her judicial robe in the hallway, appearing visibly angry while instructing a federal agent to speak with the Chief Judge. After the agent entered the Chief Judge's vestibule area, Judge Dugan reportedly entered a locked door near Courtroom 615, accessing a non-public hallway.

Further details in the document indicate that a DEA Agent, who remained in the hallway unrecognized as part of the arrest team, observed Judge Dugan walking around the hallway apparently looking for additional agents before returning to her courtroom. Meanwhile, a Deportation Officer showed credentials and the administrative warrant to another judge identified as 'Judge A' in the Chief Judge's office. The Chief Judge was not initially available but later spoke with the Deportation Officer by phone.

This case highlights tensions between federal immigration enforcement and the judiciary, a recurring issue in the U.S. legal system. The charging document provides only the federal government's account of events leading to Judge Dugan's arrest. The case will likely raise questions about jurisdiction, judicial independence, and the authority of federal agents to conduct enforcement actions in courthouses. The full legal proceedings will determine whether Judge Dugan's actions constituted illegal interference with federal officers performing their duties.

The FBI filing represents an unusual situation where a sitting judge faces criminal charges related to interactions with federal law enforcement. Such cases are relatively rare and typically draw significant attention from legal communities and civil liberties organizations. The outcome could potentially impact protocols for how federal immigration enforcement operates within courthouses and clarify boundaries between judicial authority and federal law enforcement powers.