In a courtroom drama with a twist befitting a soap opera, two judges have found themselves on the wrong side of the law. It seems that instead of upholding legal codes, these judges decided to embody the essence of chaos in judicial robes. If these judges were hoping for an exciting twist in their careers, they certainly found it but perhaps not in the way they intended.
Judge Hannah Dugan from Wisconsin decided to play the role of savior rather than jurist when she allegedly helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented migrant from Mexico, slip the clutches of ICE agents. Flores-Ruiz, facing battery charges, managed a dramatic escape through a nonpublic courthouse exit courtesy of Judge Dugan’s creative sense of justice. The chase that ensued with ICE agents down the street might have looked like a scene from a low-budget action movie, except the real-life implications are far more serious. Federal agents later arrested Judge Dugan at the courthouse, with her lawyer claiming she deeply regrets this turn of events. One wonders if she regrets the act itself or merely getting caught.
Meanwhile, in New Mexico, former Judge Joel Conno is facing charges of tampering with evidence in a case that reads like a crime novel. His residence allegedly hosted a party of undocumented individuals, including a purported member of the Tren de Aragua gang. When federal agents raided his home, they discovered Conno was allegedly harboring these individuals who had been enjoying the judge’s hospitality. In a letter to the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission, Conno lamented the treatment of these individuals as part of a wider effort to target immigrants. While his empathy for these so-called “guests” is touching, it seems operating a gang-friendly B&B wasn’t part of the original job description.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and former federal prosecutor Jonathan Fahey have expressed disbelief at the judges’ actions, decrying them as outrageous and lawless. Bondi’s remarks about delusions of grandeur come to mind, as if these judges assume their offices exempt them from the very laws they’re meant to enforce. It’s ironic—and not in a funny way—that these individuals tasked with upholding the rule of law seem to have forgotten what it looks like.
The Democrats’ response to these incidents adds another level of intrigue. Public figures like Senator Amy Klobuchar caution against what they view as unprecedented actions against sitting judges. However, just because something’s unprecedented doesn’t make it unjustified. A judge aiding an escape or destroying evidence can hardly be dismissed as conventional judicial practice. One has to wonder if the same empathy shown to these law-ignoring judges would be extended to average citizens in similar circumstances.
Both Judge Dugan and former Judge Conno face serious charges. For Dugan, obstruction and possibly federal alien harboring hang in the balance. Conno’s alleged evidence tampering only deepens the drama. If found guilty, these cases should serve as a clear message: not even a judge is above the law. It’s an essential reminder in an era where many seem to celebrate loopholes over legal fidelity. The takeaway from this courtroom spectacle might just be the age-old adage turned judicial: play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
