Wisconsin judge convicted of obstructing arrest of immigrant resigns as GOP threatens impeachment

Embattled Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan, who was convicted of obstruction last month for helping an immigrant evade federal officers, has sent her resignation letter to the governor.

The letter was sent Saturday. Republicans had been making plans to impeach her ever since her Dec. 19 conviction. A spokesperson for Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, said his office received Dugan's letter, and he would work to fill the vacancy without delay.

Dugan wrote that over the past decade she handled thousands of cases with “a commitment to treat all persons with dignity and respect, to act justly, deliberately and consistently, and to maintain a courtroom with the decorum and safety the public deserves.”

But she said the case against her is too big of a distraction.

“As you know, I am the subject of unprecedented federal legal proceedings, which are far from concluded but which present immense and complex challenges that threaten the independence of our judiciary. I am pursuing this fight for myself and for our independent judiciary,” Dugan said in her letter.

Last April, federal prosecutors accused Dugan of distracting federal officers trying to arrest a Mexican immigrant outside her courtroom and leading the man out through a private door. A federal jury convicted her of felony obstruction.

The case against Dugan was highlighted by President Donald Trump as he pressed ahead with his sweeping immigration crackdown. Democrats insisted the administration was trying to make an example of Dugan to blunt judicial opposition to the operation.

Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos praised Dugan's decision.

“I’m glad Dugan did the right thing by resigning and followed the clear direction from the Wisconsin Constitution," Vos said.

Democrat Ann Jacobs, who is chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission board, said she agreed with Dugan that Milwaukee should have a permanent judge in place while this fight plays out.

“Despite her situation, she is ever the champion of justice, wanting to remove the judiciary from a political battle over her fate. I’m sure this is terribly hard for her but she is true to her faith and her principles,” Jacobs said in a post on X.

On April 18, immigration officers went to the Milwaukee County courthouse after learning 31-year-old Eduardo Flores-Ruiz had reentered the country illegally and was scheduled to appear before Dugan for a hearing in a state battery case.

Dugan confronted agents outside her courtroom and directed them to the office of her boss, Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley, because she told them their administrative warrant wasn’t sufficient grounds to arrest Flores-Ruiz.

After the agents left, she led Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a private jury door. Agents spotted Flores-Ruiz in the corridor, followed him outside and arrested him after a foot chase. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced in November he had been deported.

FILE - Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan leaves the federal courthouse after a hearing Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Andy Manis, File)

Motor neurone disease is not likely to stop Jai Arrow trying to bring up a career milestone in Australia's National Rugby League.

The NRL is planning an exception to its rules to allow the veteran forward a chance to be on the field for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in his 99th and 100th rugby league games for the club, if only for a few moments.

Arrow, 31, had retired from the sport to concentrate on his treatment and family when he was diagnosed in May with motor neurone disease, which MND Australia describes as an umbrella term for a group of progressive neurological conditions where the motor neurones degenerate. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form, and ALS is often called Lou Gehrig’s disease.

He never expected to play again in any capacity. But, as part of an agreement with the Rabbitohs, the NRL on Tuesday granted South Sydney special dispensation to include Arrow as an extra player on the official team list and an extra substitution in their rotation for the game against the Gold Coast Titans on Saturday. A similar dispensation will be allowed for South Sydney's last regular season game against Sydney Roosters.

According to the NRL, Arrow will get dressed in South Sydney playing kit for the two NRL game days in the Rabbitohs dressing room, lead the Rabbitohs team onto the field of play, be the team’s first substitution within the first few seconds after the opening whistle without taking part in any play during the game. He'll also be able to sit on the interchange bench for the remainder of the game in his playing kit.

It will bring Arrow’s tally to 180 career games in the NRL, and 100 for the Rabbitohs, on top of his representative games for Queensland in the annual State of Origin series.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys said it was a chance for the sport to be a “conduit to bring out the best of humanity.”

“This thoughtful gesture by the South Sydney Rabbitohs shows the true heart of our game,” V’landys said. “Jai has inspired millions of people around the world with the courage and strength he has shown in his fight with MND. He is not only a great player, but an extraordinary person.

“Reaching 100 games for the Rabbitohs is a special achievement, one that Jai, his family and everyone who has supported him should be incredibly proud of. The entire rugby league community stands with Jai and is honored to celebrate this remarkable milestone with him.”

Rugby league star Rob Burrow and Scottish rugby union player Doddie Weir are high-profile players who have died from the illness in recent years.

See AP’s full sports coverage here

Jai Arrow of the Rabbitohs is on the field during the National Rugby League game against the Sea Eagles in Sydney, June 22, 2024. (James Gourley/AAP Image via AP)