Footage has been released showing federal judge Hannah Dugan confronting and obstructing ICE agents as they attempt to arrest an illegal alien involved in a domestic-violence case.
At the beginning of the month, Dugan was indicted by a federal grand jury for helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz evade arrest by ICE agents. When she became aware of the presence of ICE agents in the courthouse, she is alleged to have directed Flores-Ruiz to exit the building via a private jury door.
She is facing six years in prison and $350,000 in fines.
The footage was obtained via an open-records request and shows Judge Dugan in her robes as she walks through the courthouse to confront the ICE agents.
The footage also shows Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer sneaking out of the building via the jury door.
Agents gave chase and later apprehended the alien.
Dugan’s lawyers have attempted to dismiss the federal case against her by means of the 10th Amendment, concerning judicial impunity.
“The government’s prosecution of Judge Dugan is virtually unprecedented and entirely unconstitutional—it violates the Tenth Amendment and fundamental principles of federalism and comity reflected in that amendment and in the very structure of the United States Constitution,” the motion to dismiss states.
“Even if (contrary to what the trial evidence would show) Judge Dugan took the actions the complaint alleges, these plainly were judicial acts for which she has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution. Judges are empowered to maintain control over their courtrooms specifically and the courthouse generally.”