Jay Block, a state senator for Nevada, said that the federal indictment of Judge Hannah Dugan demonstrates that accountability applies to all.
"Great job, grand jury," said Jay C Block, New Mexico State Senator from 12th District (R). "Indicted!! No one is above the law!!!"
In April 2025, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was indicted by a federal grand jury. The charges allege she assisted an undocumented immigrant in evading immigration authorities. According to Reuters, the indictment claims that Judge Dugan allowed Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who had been deported in 2013, to leave through a back door of her courtroom, thereby preventing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from detaining him. Dugan has pleaded not guilty and is seeking dismissal of the charges on grounds of judicial immunity. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has suspended her pending resolution of the case.
According to the U.S. Courts’ 2024 Federal Judicial Caseload Statistics, U.S. district courts experienced a 24% increase in civil cases categorized as "other immigration actions," totaling 11,523 filings. This rise reflects a growing number of disputes involving immigration law, including enforcement and administrative appeals. The report underscores an ongoing trend of elevated legal activity related to immigration policy and enforcement.
A study by the University of Florida Law Review highlights how rare judicial indictments are, revealing that only two Article III federal judges were criminally indicted in the decade leading up to 2015. These figures demonstrate the exceptional nature of federal criminal proceedings against sitting judges. Most misconduct by judges is handled through judicial councils rather than criminal courts.
Jay C. Block is a Republican serving as a New Mexico State Senator for District 12 since January 2025. According to the New Mexico Legislature’s official website, Block is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and a former Sandoval County Commissioner from 2016 to 2024. He has focused on legislation supporting veterans, law enforcement, and economic development.
