Former Bush administration legal representative joins defense team of Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan

Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan, facing charges for allegedly hiding an illegal immigrant in her jury room to protect him from immigration enforcement, has enlisted the legal representation of Paul Clemente, a prominent former Bush solicitor general, as reported by Law.com.

Paul Clemente, known for his expertise in appellate law, previously held the position of U.S. solicitor general from 2005 to 2009 and has presented arguments in over 100 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

During his time in office, President Donald Trump had Paul Clemente on his list of potential Supreme Court nominees and sought his counsel regarding the Justice Department’s request to dismiss a corruption case involving New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Clemente advised for the case to be permanently dismissed, preventing any possibility of it being reopened.

Paul Clemente, an appellate legal heavyweight, served as the U.S. solicitor general from 2005 to 2009 and has argued more than 100 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is now representing Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Dugan appeared in federal court in Milwaukee on Friday and her next court appearance is May 15.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued an administrative order on Tuesday calling for Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan to be “temporarily relieved of her official duties.”

Clement, meanwhile, is a founding partner of Clement & Murphy PLLC, a boutique appellate law firm based in Washington, D.C., and a distinguished lecturer in law at the Georgetown University Law Center, where he initially served as an adjunct professor starting in 1998.

Following graduation, Clement clerked for Judge Laurence H. Silberman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit as well as for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. 

Clement’s advocacy in the high court also includes recently arguing Loper Bright v. Raimondo, which effectively overturned the Chevron doctrine. The doctrine previously gave deference to an agency’s interpretation of a federal regulation. 

He also served as chief counsel of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, Federalism and Property Rights.

Milwaukee Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan speaks at a pro-Ukraine rally on February 24, 2025. (Lee Matz/ Milwaukee Independent via AP)

Clement will join a legal team led by Steve Biskupic, a former U.S. attorney and a George W. Bush appointee who prosecuted seven officers for the 2004 racially motivated assault of Frank Jude Jr., according to Law.com reports.

Other members of the defense team include Craig Mastantuono of Mastantuono Coffee & Thomas and Jason Luczak and Nicole Masnica of Gimbel, Reilly, Guerin & Brown, per the outlet.

Fox News Digital’s Haley Chi-Sing, Breanne Deppisch and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.