Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan’s dramatic fall from grace has taken a surprising turn with her pension possibly remaining intact despite a felony conviction and her subsequent resignation.

After a tumultuous year that saw her suspension, arrest, conviction, and resignation, Dugan’s case has raised eyebrows over whether a felony conviction can strip a public servant of their hard-earned retirement benefits.

Let’s rewind to spring 2025, when the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Dugan after the FBI arrested her for assisting an unauthorized migrant in evading capture.

Judge Dugan’s Suspension and Arrest Shock Community

Having served as a circuit court judge in Milwaukee County since her election in 2016, Dugan was no stranger to the bench, handling cases for nearly a decade.

Even after her arrest in April 2025, she remained on paid suspension, with a reserve judge stepping in to manage her docket.

Fast forward to December 2025, and a federal jury delivered a split verdict—acquitting her of a misdemeanor but convicting her of felony obstruction of federal proceedings.

Felony Conviction Rocks Milwaukee Judicial System

Dugan’s defense team isn’t backing down, promising to appeal the verdict and file post-trial motions, potentially taking the fight to the 7th Circuit in Chicago.

District Judge Lynn Adelman has yet to enter a formal judgment of conviction, leaving some room for speculation on the final outcome.

Amidst this legal storm, Dugan resigned on January 3, 2026, just as Republican lawmakers began sharpening their impeachment knives.

Resignation Sparks Pension Protection Debate

In her resignation letter to Governor Tony Evers, Dugan framed her exit as a noble sacrifice, stating she is “the subject of unprecedented federal legal proceedings, which are far from concluded but which present immense and complex challenges that threaten the independence of our judiciary.”

She went on to claim she is “pursuing this fight for myself and for our independent judiciary,” a statement that might raise a few skeptical eyebrows among those who see this as more self-preservation than heroism.

Let’s be real—while judicial independence matters, helping someone dodge federal authorities isn’t exactly the hill most conservatives would die on, and her lofty rhetoric might not sway those already fed up with progressive overreach in the courts.

Pension Rules Favor Dugan Despite Controversy

Now, here’s the kicker: labor attorneys suggest Dugan’s resignation was a calculated move to safeguard her state pension, and Wisconsin Retirement System rules seem to back that up.

Mark Lamkins, Office of Communications Director for the Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds, clarified, “With a limited exception, Wisconsin state law does not require an individual to forfeit their WRS pension because of being terminated or criminal charges.”

While a court could order restitution under specific conditions involving felony theft and misconduct in public office, Dugan’s case doesn’t appear to meet those narrow criteria, leaving her retirement benefits—earned from a salary exceeding $174,000 in recent years—likely untouched, a bitter pill for those who believe accountability should hit harder.