A bipartisan-backed bill in the Wisconsin Legislature would remove salaries from judges who are suspended, aiming to increase judicial accountability and decrease taxpayer burden.
The bill was introduced in response to the suspension of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Dugan was suspended two months ago amid federal charges alleging she helped an illegal alien defendant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, evade ICE by concealing him, yet she is still receiving her full judicial salary.
There was plenty of controversy initially surrounding the Judge’s arrest. However, Jed Rubenfeld, a Yale Law professor and constitutional scholar, said on the social media platform X that, ‘Long story short: This looks to me like a legitimate arrest,’ defending the charges.
Those in support of the bill take issue with the fact that the Judge is still receiving her taxpayer funded salary. ‘Judge Hannah Dugan was suspended by the Wisconsin Supreme Court while her criminal proceedings are ongoing, however, she is still collecting her pay. (RELATED: U.S. Treasury Reports Surprise June Surplus Driven by Tariff Revenue)
The taxpayers will have to fund an extended vacation for her, while already paying for reserve judges filling in,’ said bill co-sponsor Rep. Shae Sortwell, R‑Gibson. He emphasized that suspending a judge is a ‘very serious and rare action,’ and argued this change ensures accountability for officials under investigation.
In Wisconsin, circuit court judges like Dugan have salaries of up to $174,512. Currently, the judicial suspension statute does not affect salary, allowing judges to collect pay while a reserve judge fills in. That’s what the proposed legislation hopes to change. (RELTAED: Congressman Demands Accountability as Canadian Wildfires Endanger Wisconsin Residents)
