Latest news with #CountyCircuitCourt
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Prosecution of Judge Hannah Dugan undermines centuries of legal precedent
The Trump administration's unwarranted prosecution of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan threatens to undermine centuries of precedent that judges are immune from prosecution when performing official duties. Dugan is accused of knowingly concealing a person from arrest and obstructing an official proceeding. She supposedly did so through her instructions to a defendant and others in her courtroom as to how to exit her courtroom into the public hallway where ICE agents were waiting to arrest the defendant. Dugan's alleged conduct falls squarely within the bounds of a judge's official duties to control her courtroom and so cannot be a valid basis for criminal prosecution. The integrity of our justice system fundamentally hinges on the independence of its judges. That is why, historically, the judiciary has commanded a higher level of public trust than the executive and legislative branches: judges are seen as impartial arbiters of the law. This profound responsibility is in turn safeguarded by judicial immunity, a foundational principle with deep historical roots in English common law that is firmly embedded in American jurisprudence. Opinion: We asked readers about wake boats on Wisconsin lakes. Here's what you said. This same immunity for government officials that applies to the executive and legislative branches applies with equal force to judges. As the Supreme Court has explained, this enduring doctrine empowers judges to make decisions 'without apprehension of personal consequences,' thereby preserving the effectiveness and impartiality of the judiciary – the trusted keepers of the rule of law. The arrest of Dugan in violation of these principles casts a chilling shadow over judicial independence nationwide. It has compelled us, alongside a coalition of almost 140 other former state and federal judges, to file a 'friend of the court' brief supporting Dugan's motion to dismiss the federal prosecution. We felt compelled to act because the prosecution is not just about her, and is not just contrary to law; it poses a grave danger to the American justice system. As we explain in the brief, judicial immunity finds its parallels in the protections afforded to the executive and legislative branches: officials cannot be prosecuted for actions taken in their official capacity. This official immunity ensures that each co-equal branch operates free from personal reprisal. Crucially, in the case of Dugan, these official immunities are an absolute bar to the prosecution at the outset, not merely a defense to be litigated later. Filing the charges itself violates the immunity. Because the charges are based on actions taken in and around her courtroom and within her judicial role, they must be dismissed immediately. If judges are alleged to have made errors while acting in their official capacity, these are properly addressed through the appellate process or disciplinary proceedings, not the executive branch bringing criminal charges. Perhaps even more concerning, the Trump Administration alleges that Dugan knowingly concealed a defendant in her courtroom from arrest and obstructed his arrest by directing the defendant out of her courtroom through the jury's private exit and into the public hallway where ICE officials were waiting to arrest the individual, rather than force the defendant to exit the front door of her courtroom into the public hallway. If convicted of these federal felony charges, Dugan could be imprisoned for up to six years. She did not even arguably conceal the individual from arrest or obstruct his arrest. Beyond judicial independence, this prosecution gravely threatens public trust in the judicial system and in the public's ability to access courthouses without fear. If citizens believe that judges can be prosecuted for political reasons or are fearful that judges will be forced to become law enforcement agents themselves, it fundamentally undermines faith in the rule of law and the importance that judges are seen as neutral arbiters. Such a perception deters individuals from seeking justice, fostering the belief that judges are corrupt, or alternatively, that judges who act in a neutral manner may be punished. This could lead to widespread cynicism and a collective loss of faith in the justice system. The prosecution of Dugan is not merely a legal dispute; it represents a profound challenge to the separation of powers and the constitutional order of the United States. Allowing this prosecution to proceed would set a dangerous precedent and irrevocably erode the bedrock principle of judicial neutrality upon which our justice system stands. We and our over 130 other colleagues urge that the court dismiss this extraordinary indictment to safeguard the integrity and effectiveness of the entire legal system going forward. Opinion: Americans need transformative talks on race. Juneteenth is the space for that. Dugan's conduct to preserve and protect the dignity, solemnity, and decorum of her courtroom from the spectacle of the defendant's arrest by immigration officials falls squarely within the bounds of Dugan's official duties to control her courtroom and so cannot be a valid basis for criminal prosecution. Her arrest and prosecution are nothing but the next attempt by the current administration to threaten and intimidate the judiciary because the courts are ruling against the president and his administration daily. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi admitted as much when she immediately took to national television, justifying Judge Dugan's arrest on the grounds that judges across America like Dugan are 'deranged' and believe they are above the law. Never has such a corrupt statement been uttered about the judiciary in the almost 250 years since America's founding. J. Michael Luttig served as a U.S. Court of Appeals Judge from 1991 to 2006. Nancy Gertner served as a federal judge in the District of Massachusetts from 1994 to 2011 and is a senior lecturer in law at Harvard Law School. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's why Dugan's case should be tossed by federal court | Opinion
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Legislator Manny Abarca pleads not guilty to domestic battery charges in Johnson County
OLATHE, Kan. — Jackson County Legislator Manuel 'Manny' Abarca IV appeared in a Johnson County courtroom Thursday after he was charged with domestic battery. On Wednesday, Manny was charged with domestic battery in Johnson County—stemming from a reported incident that happened on May 29, 2025. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Thursday, June 5. Jackson Co. Legislator Abarca served protection order before reported missing He was booked into the Johnson County, Kansas, jail at 2:14 p.m. Wednesday and was released after posting a $1,500 bond. On Sunday, Abarca's wife reported him and their 2-year-old son missing – stating that she last saw her son on Wednesday evening and last saw her husband on Thursday. Shawnee police announced on Wednesday that the missing 2-year-old had been safely located and said their well-being had been verified. Alexis posted on Facebook Wednesday evening that her son is safe and back home with her. Abarca released the following statement to FOX4 Wednesday night: 'This is a matter of current litigation, so, unfortunately, there is not much I can say about this case at this time. However, I will say that I love my children more than anything, and I will always put them first. I hope that this issue is decided quickly so that the entire story can be told.' Jackson Co. Legislator Abarca charged in Missouri, Kansas He is also charged in Kansas City Municipal Court with violating a protection order. According to online court records, the protection order was issued by a Jackson County Circuit Court judge on May 30. As part of it, Manny was ordered to have no contact with his wife, and his wife was awarded custody of their child. Online court records show that Abarca is scheduled to appear in court for the Kansas City charge on July 10, 2025, at 9 a.m. FOX4 spoke with Aldo Caller, the attorney representing Abarca in Johnson County. He claims that Abarca's wife is actually the one who put the child in danger. 'There was an incident where his wife tried to take the child under circumstances he thought to be dangerous,' Caller told FOX4. 'We are going to show all of that in court. We want everyone to give these people some peace, some privacy, and let the court resolve all of these situations.' His attorney said Abarca was looking out for his son when he took the child. 'He has done what, I think, what any father who is concerned about the nature of a child would do,' Caller said. 'He has looked out for the safety and welfare of the child, and we are prepared to show that in court.' He said the claims of domestic battery are false. 'There are things, I think, that will be shocking to a lot of people – things that are not at all uncommon in many relationships, but we're going to leave that to the courts to decide,' Abarca's attorney told FOX4. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Naperville man sentenced to 8 years in prison after he ‘violently killed the family dog'
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WGN) — A Naperville man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI and animal cruelty in relation to the beating death of his family's dog, a black and white Shih Tzu named Rocco. 36-year-old Nathan Gonzalez was sentenced to concurrent terms of five and three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections following his guilty plea to a pair of felony counts—aggravated DUI and aggravated animal cruelty. Aggravated DUI carries a penalty of 1-15 years in prison, depending on its classification, while aggravated animal cruelty carries a 1-3 year prison sentence. As part of his sentence, Gonzalez was also ordered that he shall not own, harbor or have custody or control of any animal for the remainder of his lifetime. On Oct. 23, 2024, DuPage County Circuit Court granted the State's motion to deny Gonzalez pre-trial release following allegations that he killed the family dog and threatened his daughter and stepdaughter. He remained in police custody until his sentencing Thursday. Previous Coverage: Naperville man jailed after allegedly killing family dog, threatening kids On Sept. 29, 2024, at around 6 a.m., Naperville police dispatch received a 911 call from a 14-year-old female juvenile stating that her stepfather, later identified as Gonzalez, had killed their family dog and threatened the girl and her 11-year-old stepsister. When officers arrived, they found the two girls at home, but Gonzalez and the family dog, Rocco, were missing. Through the course of their investigation, authorities learned that Gonzalez and his partner were out for the evening, but had a dispute and took separate rides home, with Gonzalez arriving home first. After the pair split, police said Gonzalez called his partner and told her he was going to kill Rocco. When she arrived home, she found Gonzalez at home, but Rocco was missing. At this point, Gonzalez left the home. Several hours later, officers received a phone call telling them Gonzalez had returned home. When officers arrived, they learned that Gonzalez had fled the area on foot and he was found a few blocks away hiding behind a dumpster. The following day, Naperville Animal Control officers found Rocco at a construction site. A necropsy found blunt force trauma to the head as the cause of Rocco's death. 'Following an argument with his partner, Nathan Gonzalez violently killed the family dog, Rocco,' DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. 'Mr. Gonzalez's unconscionable actions, that took the life of a beloved, defenseless family pet, are extremely disturbing. Our pets are family members and deserve our love and comfort, not a violent, painful death as Rocco was forced to endure.' On Dec. 17, 2023, officers with the Naperville Police Department pulled Gonzalez over for speeding. When speaking with Gonzalez, officers smelled alcohol coming from Gonzalez, who officers said had glassy and bloodshot eyes. During the stop, officers learned that Gonzalez was driving on a suspended license out of Indiana. He was arrested at the scene, and it was later determined that his BAC was .131. He was charged and released. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Portland woman's estate accuses ex-wrestler husband, murder suspect of elder abuse
PORTLAND, Ore. () — The former wrestler who was involving his wife's death has been sued by her estate. In a complaint filed with the Multnomah County Circuit Court on May 23, Janette Elaine Becraft's estate accused William 'Billy Jack' Albert Haynes Jr. of elder abuse. Haynes, who started his career as a professional wrestler in 1982, was 70 years old when his 85-year-old wife died in the Lents neighborhood last year. Stolen baby goats returned to Vancouver feed store, rabbit still missing In February 2024, the Portland Police Bureau ordered a shelter-in-place in the Lents neighborhood after a fatal shooting at 6000 SE 100th Ave. Authorities later identified Becraft as the shooting victim, and revealed that Haynes was arrested as the potential suspect . He has with second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. The new lawsuit against Haynes alleges he abused his disabled wife mentally, physically and financially in the five years leading up to her death. Plaintiffs claimed the suspect isolated Becraft from friends and family, coerced her into abandoning treatment from her own medical providers and influenced her to consume substances like heroin and methamphetamine. 'Defendant even deprived her of normal nutritional support, even when her family attempted to arrange food deliveries and prevented such interventions, and refused to allow her to spend her own funds on appropriate food,' Portland-based attorney Daniel Lorenz wrote. Former corrections officer sentenced after sexual misconduct at Coffee Creek facility Plaintiffs also alleged Haynes coerced his wife into withdrawing hundreds of thousands of dollars from her bank accounts and accessing a firearm he couldn't legally own due to his criminal record, among other claims. Becraft's estate is seeking $750,000 in damages. Earlier this month, Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Angela Lucero ruled Haynes was unfit to help in his own defense 'due to a qualifying mental disorder.' He is now being held in Oregon State Hospital. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
AsiaOne
16-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Wisconsin judge pleads not guilty to impeding immigrant's arrest, World News
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin — A Wisconsin judge pleaded not guilty on Thursday (May 15) to charges accusing her of helping a migrant evade an arrest outside her courtroom in a case with implications for US President Donald Trump's sweeping immigration crackdown. Hannah Dugan, an elected judge on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, is facing federal charges accusing her of obstruction and concealing an individual wanted for arrest. Her lawyer, Steven Biskupic, entered the plea on her behalf during a brief proceeding. US Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries set a July 22 trial date. Several dozen protesters gathered outside the federal courthouse in Milwaukee before the hearing, denouncing the Trump administration and chanting, "hands off Judge Dugan". A few demonstrators flew an upside down American flag, a symbol of national distress. Dugan, wearing a dark suit and purple blouse, exited the courthouse into a waiting car without speaking to reporters. Prosecutors allege that Dugan sought to derail the planned arrest by directing federal agents away from the hallway outside of her courtroom and escorting the migrant, identified as Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, through a non-public exit. Dugan's legal team has said she is innocent. On Wednesday, her lawyers asked for the indictment to be tossed out, arguing that as a judge she is immune from prosecution over official actions and that the case intrudes on state authority. "The government's prosecution of Judge Dugan is virtually unprecedented and entirely unconstitutional," her lawyers wrote in a court filing. The case came after the US Justice Department under Trump vowed to investigate local officials who impede the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement. State courthouses have proved an attractive venue for federal immigration operations, but the practice has drawn resistance from advocates over fears people living in the United States illegally will be deterred from accessing legal services. Dugan, first elected as a judge in 2016, spent much of her career representing low-income litigants in cases involving civil rights and domestic abuse issues. The prosecution relates to Flores-Ruiz's planned appearance in Dugan's courtroom on assault charges on April 18. Flores-Ruiz was set to appear for a pre-trial hearing after he was accused of striking his roommate and two others during a dispute about loud music, according to a local police report. Flores-Ruiz had previously been deported to Mexico and federal immigration agents secured an administrative warrant to take him into custody, according to the criminal complaint against Dugan. The complaint, citing witnesses, alleges that Dugan became angry after learning that law enforcement agents planned to arrest Flores-Ruiz outside her courtroom following the hearing. She first directed a group of agents to an office down the hallway, where one agent spoke by phone to the chief judge. She then privately addressed the Flores-Ruiz case and waved him and his lawyer through a non-public "jury door", according to the complaint. The document notes that Flores-Ruiz was later spotted by law enforcement in a public hallway and that one agent followed him into an elevator. Flores-Ruiz was arrested outside the courthouse after a foot chase. [[nid:717247]]
