A judge has been arrested by federal authorities over an immigration dispute, marking a significant development in the Trump administration’s power struggle with the courts. The arrest mirrors a similar case from 2018 involving Massachusetts state District Court Judge Shelley Joseph.
In 2018, Joseph and a court officer were accused of helping an undocumented migrant evade capture during a narcotics arrest. Joseph was later indicted on charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice but pleaded not guilty. The case sparked outrage from the state’s top officials, including then-Attorney General Maura Healey.
However, unlike the current case, Joseph surrendered to authorities and had her charges dropped in 2022. She was instead referred to the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct, which filed formal charges against her late last year.
Similarly, federal authorities have arrested a Wisconsin judge, Hannah Dugan, for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest. The case involves felony counts of obstruction and concealing a person from arrest. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has criticized the Trump administration’s efforts to undermine the judiciary.
The latest arrests demonstrate the ongoing tensions between the executive branch and the judicial system. With similar cases emerging in 2018, it is clear that this issue is far from resolved.
Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/25/hannah-dugan-shelley-joseph-immigration-00311183