Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, already under indictment for helping an illegal immigrant slip past Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has been dealt another blow. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Lynne Adelman rejected her motion to dismiss the charges, ensuring the case will move forward.

Dugan, who was indicted in May on charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest, allegedly guided 31-year-old Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a back exit of her courtroom in April after learning ICE agents were waiting to take him into custody. Agents ultimately caught Flores-Ruiz outside after a brief chase, but not before Dugan’s actions were caught on video. The footage became key evidence in the federal indictment.

If convicted, Dugan could face up to six years in prison and fines totaling $350,000. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has already suspended her from the bench until the matter is resolved.

Her defense has been unusual — claiming that judicial immunity protects her because she was acting in her official capacity. But Judge Adelman wasn’t buying it. “There is no basis for granting immunity simply because some of the allegations in the indictment describe conduct that could be considered ‘part of a judge’s job,’” he wrote in his ruling. The decision backed up a July recommendation from a magistrate judge that the case proceed.

Prosecutors say Dugan’s decision to interfere was a clear violation of federal law. She is charged with obstruction, a felony, and concealing an individual to prevent arrest, a misdemeanor. Both are tied to her attempt to thwart ICE agents who were acting on Flores-Ruiz’s immigration status.

Dugan’s attorneys insist she acted properly. “We look forward to the trial which will show Judge Dugan did nothing wrong and simply treated this case like any other in front of her courtroom,” her legal team said in a statement following the ruling.

Attorney General Pam Bondi, however, has been clear about the stakes. Back in May, she said, “It doesn’t matter what line of work you are in, if you break the law, we will follow the facts and we will prosecute you.”

The case highlights an ongoing clash between President Donald Trump’s administration, which has cracked down aggressively on illegal immigration, and local officials in Democrat-led jurisdictions who resist federal enforcement. Dugan’s conduct, captured on camera and now under federal scrutiny, has become a flashpoint in that conflict.

Her next court date is set for September 3. Until then, she remains suspended, facing a trial that could strip her of her career — and her freedom. For critics of lax immigration enforcement, it’s a moment of accountability. For allies of Dugan, it’s proof of what they see as federal overreach. Either way, the outcome will send shockwaves through both the judiciary and the broader immigration debate.