Besieged Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugganwho was convicted of obstruction of justice last month for helping an immigrant evade federal officers, sent her resignation letter to the governor.
The letter was sent on Saturday. Republicans have been planning to impeach her since her conviction on December 19. A spokesman for Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, said his office received Duggan’s letter and that he would work to fill the vacancy without delay.
Over the past decade, Duggan wrote, she has handled thousands of cases with a “commitment to treating all persons with dignity and respect, acting fairly, intentionally and consistently, and maintaining the courtroom with the decorum and safety that the public deserves.”
But she said the case against her was too big to be distracted.
“As you know, I am the subject of unprecedented federal legal proceedings, which are far from over but present enormous and complex challenges that threaten the independence of our judiciary,” Duggan said in her letter. “I continue this fight for myself and for our independent judiciary.”
Last April, federal prosecutors accused Duggan of distracting federal officers who were trying to arrest a Mexican immigrant outside the courthouse and removing the man through a private door. A federal jury convicted her of felony obstruction.
President Donald Trump has highlighted the case against Duggan as he presses ahead with his sweep Immigration campaign. Democrats insisted that the administration was trying to make an example of Duggan to mitigate judicial opposition to the process.
Wisconsin Republican State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos praised Duggan’s decision.
“I’m glad Duggan did the right thing by resigning and followed the clear direction of the Wisconsin Constitution,” Vos said.
Democrat Anne Jacobs, who chairs the Wisconsin Elections Commission, said she agrees with Duggan that Milwaukee should have a permanent judge in place while this fight continues.
“Despite her situation, she has always been an advocate for justice, and wants to take the judiciary out of a political battle over her fate. I’m sure this is very difficult for her but she is loyal to her faith and principles,” Jacobs said in a post on X.
On April 18, immigration officers went to Milwaukee County Court after learning that 31-year-old Eduardo Flores Ruiz had reentered the country illegally and was scheduled to appear before Duggan for a hearing in his state battery case.
Duggan confronted the agents outside the courtroom and directed them to the office of her boss, Milwaukee County Chief Judge Carl Ashley, as she told them their administrative arrest warrant was not sufficient cause to arrest Flores-Ruiz.
After the agents left, Flores led Ruiz and his attorney to the door of the private jury. Agents spotted Flores-Ruiz in the hallway, followed him outside and arrested him after a foot chase. The US Department of Homeland Security announced in November They were deported.