Assembly advances bill to suspend pay for judges

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MADISON – The state Assembly has passed a measure inspired by the case of former Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan that would suspend pay for judges accused of judicial misconduct or pending the determination of alleged judicial misconduct. If proven innocent through a trial, the judge could then be provided back pay.

Dugan was suspended from her court duties by the Wisconsin Supreme Court while her case on federal charges filed in April of obstructing an immigration arrest of a man appearing in her courtroom was pending. She continued to receive her annual pay of $175,000.

A jury found Dugan guilty of a felony obstruction charge and found her not guilty on a related misdemeanor charge of concealing a wanted person in December. Her defense team is appealing and asking the judge in the case, Lynn Adelman, to set aside the verdict.

Dugan resigned as a Milwaukee County judge on Jan. 3, writing to Gov. Tony Evers, “My faith in God and in our legal system leads me to trust that in the long run justice will be served for our independent judiciary and for me.”

Bill author Rep. Shae Sortwell, R-Two Rivers, said it was clear that Dugan thought she could use her position to “get above federal authorities” by allegedly helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented Mexican immigrant, avoid arrest by federal immigration officials and then she got what he said amounted to a paid vacation while she waited for her trial.

“This is looking at the future to say, if another judge decides to do this, they should not be able to collect their pay… while that case is pending,” he said.

The measure passed with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats opposed and moves to the Senate.