Briefs deadline set in Dugan case

A federal court set new deadlines Wednesday in the criminal case against Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan.

Dugan faces federal charges after prosecutors say she helped a man evade immigration enforcement on April 18 at the Milwaukee County Courthouse.

Earlier this week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph recommended against dismissing the case and suggested the case move forward. It’s now up to U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman to accept or reject her recommendation.

On Wednesday, Adelman gave Dugan’s attorneys until July 17 to submit briefs in response to the magistrate’s recommendation. After that, prosecutors have two weeks to file their own updated arguments responding to the defense’s latest brief.

A trial date has not been set.

Dugan’s attorneys argued in their motions to dismiss that federal prosecutors were overstepping their authority by trampling on Wisconsin’s sovereignty and the authority of a state judge. They also argued that judicial immunity protects Dugan from being prosecuted from official acts that she undertakes as a judge, including her ability to run her own courtroom.

Federal prosecutors, however, rejected those arguments, saying judicial immunity does not mean judges can break the law by interfering with law enforcement.