Judge's Legal Battle Over Immigration Aid

A judge in Wisconsin is fighting back against charges that she helped a man avoid immigration agents. This judge, Hannah Dugan, is arguing that she did nothing wrong and that she has legal protection for her actions. She is claiming that her actions were part of her job as a judge. She is saying that she was just doing her job when she helped the man leave the courthouse. The judge's lawyers say that she has immunity. This means that she cannot be punished for actions she takes as part of her job. They point to a recent Supreme Court case. This case said that former presidents have immunity for actions they take as part of their job. The judge's lawyers say that the same should be true for judges. The judge's case has become a big deal. It has sparked a fight between Republicans and Democrats. Democrats say that the judge's arrest is too harsh. They say that the government is trying to make an example of her. Republicans, on the other hand, say that the judge broke the law and should be punished. The man that the judge helped was in the country illegally. He had been deported before and had come back. He was in court for a hearing on a domestic violence charge. Immigration agents were there to arrest him. The judge's clerk told her about the agents. The judge got angry and led the agents away from the courtroom. She then helped the man leave the courthouse through a back door. The government says that the judge's actions were wrong. They say that she interfered with the agents' job. The judge says that she was just doing her job. She says that she has the right to control what happens in her courtroom. The judge's case is not the first of its kind. A similar case happened in Massachusetts during the first Trump administration. In that case, a judge helped a man leave the courthouse to avoid immigration agents. That case was eventually dismissed. The judge's case has led to her being suspended from the bench. A reserve judge is filling in for her. The judge's next court appearance is her arraignment. This is when she will enter her plea. Her lawyers say that she is innocent and will plead not guilty. The judge's case raises important questions. What are the limits of a judge's power? Can a judge be punished for actions taken as part of their job? These are questions that the court will have to answer.