This is an update on the Judge Hannah Dugan case, in which she was arrested for allegedly “obstructing” ICE. There’s been another step in this shizzle of a case that never should have started to begin with. From CBS News:
In a report filed Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Joseph recommended that Dugan’s attempt to dismiss the charges should be rejected. “It is well-established and undisputed that judges have absolute immunity from civil lawsuits for monetary damages when engaging in judicial acts,” she wrote in a 37-page filing. “This, however, is not a civil case. And review of the case law does not show an extension of this established doctrine to the criminal context.”
Oooooookay. So she’s sending it forward. She’s not dismissing the case, for this stupidity that again, never should have happened. It’s not a civil case, it’s a criminal case? Oh, for heaven’s sake. REALLY? I’m so angry about this travesty, I can hardly find the words to express it. More on that in a moment.
Joseph stressed, however, that her recommendations, which are non-binding, do not speak to the merits of the allegations against Dugan, who is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A jury trial before U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman was set to begin July 21, but has been delayed. But Joseph wrote she is “unconvinced” that common law or the Supreme Court’s decision in Mr. Trump’s case “provide the authority for applying the civil framework of absolute judicial immunity for judicial acts to the prosecution of judges for crimes that relate to official duties.”
Grrrrrrrrr. Okay, so let’s go back to the beginning of this mess. She sent an immigrant and his lawyer out a side door from the jury box instead of the usual go out the main door. That’s it! That’s ALL she did. And now she is a defendant in a CRIMINAL case? Seems to me the DoJ is trying to make an example out of her for something so minor that it should never have had a warrant in the first place! This has gone on and on for One Simple Thing. It *never* should have started, let alone gone this far. I’ve been watching this from day 1 and grrrrrrrr-ing the whole time since then. So, her trial has now been delayed. Oh, wonderful. Hurry up and wait, anyone?
Adelman will have the final word on whether to grant Dugan’s request to dismiss the indictment. Federal prosecutors and Dugan’s lawyers are set to appear before the judge on Wednesday to discuss the status of the case and address additional scheduling matters.
You do realize that she is likely not able to have her court back until after this mess is finished? This may seem minor, but I hope she’s still getting paid. Oh, somewhere along the way, it was mentioned she could go to jail. Whaaaaaat? Jail. For directing someone out of a different door.
I’m no legal expert, nor do I claim to be, but this strikes me the wrong way. I don’t understand the mindset that managed to get a warrant for a judge’s arrest on such a bull reason. I don’t get the mindset of the judge who signed off on the warrant. This is obviously why I didn’t become a lawyer. I can barely think about what it must be like for her going through all this. We both have to be wondering if she’ll be able to be a judge again, like she still should be. I’ll keep following this. And the mills of god grind slowly. Thanks for sticking with me!
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