Wisconsin Assembly to Vote to Suspend Judges Without Pay
Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to change the law after the Hannah Dugan case.
Published January 12, 2026

Wisconsin lawmakers are looking to change the law after the Hannah Dugan case.

The full Assembly is set to vote Tuesday on a plan from Rep. Shea Sortwell, R-Two Rivers, that would take paychecks away from any judge or court commissioner who is suspended.

“This bill specifies that, if the supreme court imposes a temporary suspension pending final determination of proceedings or imposes a suspension as a disciplinary sanction in a case of misconduct, the suspension must be without pay,” the legislation states.

The plan comes after Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was suspended with pay for helping an illegal immigrant escape ICE agents at the Milwaukee County courthouse.

A jury found Dugan of obstruction after she confronted ICE agents in the courthouse hallway, then returning to her courtroom and directing the suspect out a non-public side door.

The immigrant was arrested outside. He eventually agreed to a plea deal and was deported.

Dugan was suspended in April of last year, but she was allowed to collect her $175,000 a-year paycheck until earlier this month, when she resigned.

Currently, the Wisconsin Supreme Court and/or the state’s Judicial Commission has the power to suspend judges and court commissioners with pay.

Sortwell’s plan would require any suspension for misconduct to be unpaid. It would also require temporary suspensions to be unpaid.

While the legislation will likely pass the Assembly this week, there is little to no chance Gov. Tony Evers will sign it.

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This article was originally published with the MacIver Institute.