Carol Platt Liebau: A Reminder That No One Is Above the Law

Too often, it may seem that our jury system doesn’t hold powerful people to account. This time, it did.

A federal jury has convicted Milawaukee judge Hannah Dugan of a felony: obstructing federal agents who were attempting to arrest an illegal immigrant defendant in her courtroom.

Dugan’s case drew national attention last spring. ICE agents were waiting outside her courtroom to arrest an illegal immigrant, who was also a defendant in her courtroom on battery charges. Dugan sent the agents to speak with the chief judge, then ushered the defendant out through a discreet back door.

Judge Dugan was free to disagree with federal immigrant law or its enforcement. She wasn’t free to ignore it because it didn’t conform to her policy preferences.

Judges don’t get to decide which laws apply to them. When they break the law, consequences follow.

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