Milwaukee County Supervisor Jack Eckblad has issued a strong condemnation of the detention of the Honourable Judge Hannah Dugan, who was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals at the Milwaukee County Courthouse.
According to official statements and media reports, Judge Dugan’s arrest is viewed by Eckblad as a direct affront to judicial independence and civil rights.
Supervisor Eckblad described the detention as a “flagrant attempt” by the Trump Administration to intimidate and deprive Judge Dugan of her rights, both as a judge and as an individual. He emphasised that such actions not only violate Judge Dugan’s rights but also threaten the civil liberties of every person in the United States, invoking the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of due process and equal protection under the law.
Eckblad called for unity in the face of what he labelled as “authoritarian impulses and actions,” warning that depriving one individual of due process sets a dangerous precedent for the rights of all Americans.
He stated, “By depriving one person of their right to due process, the federal government is asserting it has the authority to deprive anyone and everyone of those same rights. Judge Dugan’s example is a testament to our ability to insist on our rights, and history will see her as a champion of our democracy. Judge Dugan should be released immediately.
The Supervisor’s statement underscores the deep concern within Milwaukee’s leadership over the implications of Judge Dugan’s detention for the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. The situation continues to develop, with widespread calls for Judge Dugan’s immediate release and a reaffirmation of constitutional protections for all.