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Hannah Dugan
Hannah Dugan is a judge for Branch 31 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin. She assumed office in 2016. Her current term ends on August 1, 2028.
Dugan ran for re-election for the Branch 31 judge of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin. She won in the general election on April 5, 2022.
Biography
Dugan earned her B.A. in legal studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her M.A. in American studies from Boston College. She later received her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dugan began working as an attorney in private practice in 2010. She has also served as a referee on attorney discipline cases for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Municipal elections in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (2022)
General election
General election for Milwaukee County Circuit Court Branch 31
Incumbent Hannah Dugan won election in the general election for Milwaukee County Circuit Court Branch 31 on April 5, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Hannah Dugan (Nonpartisan) | 98.4 | 89,206 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.6 | 1,434 | ||
| Total votes: 90,640 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
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Nonpartisan primary election
The primary election was canceled. Incumbent Hannah Dugan advanced from the primary for Milwaukee County Circuit Court Branch 31.
2016
Wisconsin held general elections for local judicial offices on April 5, 2016. A primary election took place on February 16, 2016. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was January 5, 2016. Hannah Dugan defeated incumbent Paul Rifelj in the Milwaukee County Circuit Court general election for Branch 31.[2]
| Milwaukee County Circuit Court (Branch 31), General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Hannah Dugan | 64.54% | 110,779 |
| Paul RifeljIncumbent | 34.71% | 59,576 |
| Write-in votes | 0.76% | 1,302 |
| Total Votes | 171,657 | |
| Source:Milwaukee County, "Spring Election Unofficial Results," accessed April 5, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Nonpartisan election of judges
The 241 judges of the Wisconsin Circuit Courts are elected in nonpartisan elections to six-year terms. All judges must run for re-election if they wish to continue serving after their term expires.[3]
The chief judge of each circuit court is chosen by the state supreme court to serve a two-year term.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on the circuit courts, a judge must be:[3]
- a qualified elector in the state;
- a qualified elector of his or her circuit (for circuit judges); and
- licensed to practice law in the state for at least five years.
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Hannah Dugan did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Endorsements
2016
Dugan received the following endorsements in 2016:[4]
- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
- Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy
- Former Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann
- Milwaukee County Clerk Joseph Czarnezki
- Milwaukee County Clerk of Courts John Barrett
- Milwaukee County Supervisor Gerry Broderick
Noteworthy events
On April 25, 2025, a spokesperson for the U.S. Marshals confirmed to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Dugan had been arrested that morning and was charged with obstruction and concealing an individual.[5]
FBI Director Kash Patel wrote in a post on X that Dugan had been arrested, saying, "Just NOW, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week. We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject — an illegal alien — to evade arrest. Thankfully, our agents chased down the perp on foot and he’s been in custody since, but the Judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public. We will have more to share soon. Excellent work @FBIMilwaukee."[6]
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Dugan directed Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out of her office and into a private hallway when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrived. Flores-Ruiz was in Dugan’s office for a pre-trial conference.[5]
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑Hannah Dugan for Judge, "Career," accessed March 6, 2016
- ↑Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates Registered by Office," accessed January 12, 2016
- ↑ 3.03.13.2American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Wisconsin," archived October 3, 2014
- ↑Hannah Dugan for Judge, "Endorsements," accessed March 6, 2016
- ↑ 5.05.1Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan arrested by feds at courthouse," accessed April 25, 2025
- ↑X, "FBI Director Kash Patel," April 25, 2025
Federal courts:
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Wisconsin, Western District of Wisconsin • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Wisconsin, Western District of Wisconsin
State courts:
Wisconsin Supreme Court • Wisconsin Court of Appeals • Wisconsin Circuit Courts • Wisconsin Municipal Courts
State resources:
Courts in Wisconsin • Wisconsin judicial elections • Judicial selection in Wisconsin
