Judge Lynn Adelman to Hear Hannah Dugan Case, Veteran Jurist with Left/Progressive Roots

The case of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, charged with allegedly assisting an undocumented immigrant in evading arrest, has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lynn S. Adelman. Dugan is expected to enter a plea on Thursday.

Who is Lynn Adelman? To folks from southeast Wisconsin, he’s a well known liberal jurist and former Democratic Wisconsin state legislator. Adelman’s 20-year tenure in the Wisconsin State Senate and his judicial rulings reflect a deep commitment to liberal public policy, earning both praise and criticism for his ideological stance.

Early Life and Education

Born Oct. 1, 1939, in Milwaukee, Adelman earned a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University in 1961 and a Bachelor of Laws from Columbia Law School in 1965. He served as a research assistant at Columbia from 1965 to 1966, worked as a trial attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Wisconsin from 1967 to 1968, and then entered private practice in Milwaukee.

Progressive Political Background

Adelman’s political career began in 1977 when he was elected as a Democratic state senator representing southwest Milwaukee County. Serving until 1997, he championed campaign finance reform and clean government, aligning with Wisconsin’s post-Watergate reform efforts. In a 2018 Cleveland State Law Review article, he lamented the state’s declining political integrity, underscoring his reformist roots. His 1997 appointment to the federal bench, backed by Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson, shifted his Senate seat to Republican control—a move Thompson and other Republican supporters of the appointment described as strategically motivated but not purely partisan.

Adelman’s liberal ideology, honed during his legislative years, informs his judicial perspective. Conservatives often cite his Democratic ties as evidence of bias, while supporters laud his focus on addressing inequality and protecting voting rights.

Federal Bench Appointment

President Bill Clinton nominated Adelman on Sept. 8, 1997, to fill the vacancy left by Judge Thomas J. Curran on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Confirmed by the Senate on Nov. 13, 1997, he received his commission on Dec. 23, 1997, following a Judiciary Committee hearing and bipartisan support driven by Wisconsin’s political dynamics.

Key Cases and Opinions

  • Voter ID Law (Frank v. Walker, 2014): Adelman struck down Wisconsin’s 2011 voter ID law, ruling it violated the 14th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act by disproportionately burdening minority and low-income voters. His 90-page opinion, later overturned by the 7th Circuit (see below), criticized the law’s justification.
  • Racial Discrimination (Kimble v. Donoghue, 2010): Adelman found that Johnny Kimble faced racial bias in pay raises from Secretary Sheehan Donoghue, ordering compensation and citing implicit bias research.
  • Embezzlement Case (United States v. Sachdeva, 2010): Adelman presided over the trial of Sujata Sachdeva, who embezzled $34 million from Koss Corporation, showcasing his handling of complex financial crimes.
  • School Busing (St. Augustine School v. Evers, 2017): Adelman upheld Superintendent Tony Evers’ denial of busing to St. Augustine School, citing proximity to another archdiocesan school. His opinion, which referenced Wikipedia, was affirmed by the 7th Circuit in 2018.
  • Lead Paint Litigation (2019): Adelman awarded $6 million (later reduced to $4.8 million) to three Milwaukee men for lead poisoning under Wisconsin’s risk contribution theory, rejecting paint companies’ recusal requests tied to his 2020 article.

Controversial Writings and Criticism

In a 2020 Harvard Law & Policy Review article, “The Roberts Court’s Assault on Democracy,” Adelman criticized the Supreme Court’s conservative majority for undermining voting rights and amplifying corporate influence, dismissing Chief Justice John Roberts’ neutrality claim as “disingenuous.” The article prompted four complaints, leading to a June 2020 7th Circuit Judicial Council admonishment for undermining judicial impartiality. Adelman regretted some phrasing but stood by his critique.

Overturned on Key Rulings

Adelman has had several high-profile decisions reversed by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals,

Below are key examples of overturned opinions:

  • Milwaukee County “Labor Peace” Ordinance (2005): Adelman upheld a Milwaukee County ordinance requiring certain contractors to sign labor peace agreements. The 7th Circuit overturned this decision, finding it preempted by federal labor law. This reversal reflected a narrower interpretation of local government authority than Adelman’s ruling.
  • Frank v. Walker (2014): Adelman’s ruling that Wisconsin’s voter ID law was unconstitutional was overturned by the 7th Circuit. The appeals court issued a sharp rebuke, stating, “The district judge found as a fact that the majority of the Supreme Court was wrong about benefits such as better record keeping and promoting public confidence. … A single district judge cannot say as a ‘fact’ that they do not, even if 20 political scientists disagree with the Supreme Court.” [Frank v. Walker, 768 F.3d 744, 750 (7th Cir. 2014)]. This reversal highlighted Adelman’s divergence from Supreme Court precedent.
  • United States v. White (2008-2013): Adelman initially dismissed the indictment of William A. White, who posted a juror’s personal information online after a white supremacist’s conviction, arguing the action was protected by the First Amendment and did not constitute a direct threat. The 7th Circuit overturned this dismissal, leading to a trial and conviction. Adelman later reversed the conviction for the same First Amendment reasons, but this too was overturned. On Feb. 20, 2013, Adelman sentenced White to three and a half years in prison for soliciting violence against the juror, a sentence served concurrently with other charges. This case underscores Adelman’s initial expansive view of free speech, which higher courts rejected.
  • Ted Oswald Case (2003): Adelman overturned Ted Oswald’s convictions for first-degree intentional homicide and other crimes due to juror bias, ordering a new trial. The 7th Circuit reversed this decision, and Oswald was convicted again in 2005. The case drew significant criticism from conservatives.

At 85, Adelman remains a polarizing figure. Supporters view him as a defender of marginalized groups, while critics argue his liberal background influences his rulings. His dual legacy as a progressive legislator and judge continues to shape Wisconsin’s legal landscape. One of his final acts on the bench may come in the curious case of Judge Hannah Dugan.

May 14, 2025

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