Self-righteousness, Karens, and the Tall Poppy Syndrome.

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14 (NIV)

Self-righteousness, Karens, and the Tall Poppy Syndrome

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Self-righteousness is an attitude or belief in which a person considers their beliefs, actions, or moral standards superior to others. This sense of moral superiority often leads to intolerance toward the opinions and behaviors of others, accompanied by a tendency to judge, criticize, or rebuke those seen as less virtuous or moral.

Pride is often the source of many amoral transgressions. It causes one to focus on the behaviors of others and ignore one's own. Many want to be first, which causes anger when others disagree. Bitterness and envy often follow. It is a root cause of self-righteousness.

Pride is often an egregious emotion in the TP (see Stolen Valor, Pride, and the Tall Poppy Syndrome and Biden Tall Poppies Himself). Still, it can also be found in the cutter, especially disguised in self-righteousness (see Self-Righteousness and Hypocrisy as Cutters in the Tall Poppy Syndrome). The cutter's arrogant attitude is often judgmental toward the perceived weaknesses or mistakes of others. The cutter is intolerant of differing viewpoints or behaviors.

Self-righteousness is not just an outward attitude but can also stem from internal insecurity, such as low self-esteem, commonly found in cutters. Some individuals act self-righteously not because they genuinely believe they are better, but because they feel inadequate and try to elevate themselves by cutting others down. This behavior can alienate others, damage relationships, and create unnecessary adversaries.

Myside bias is a common cognitive bias where individuals process, select, and interpret information in a way that favors their prior beliefs and attitudes. It is an unconscious, universal cognitive tendency not necessarily tied to morality or superiority. One selectively seeks, accepts, or recalls information that supports one's side and dismisses opposing evidence. Sources of these competing viewpoints are found in political debates, social media, scientific research, and jury decisions.

Myside bias primarily concerns how we process information, often unconsciously, favoring evidence and arguments that support our beliefs. It serves as a cognitive shortcut experienced by everyone, regardless of intelligence or education.

Self-righteousness is an attitude or stance in which one believes oneself morally superior to others, often resulting in judgmental or condescending behavior.

Myside bias can lead to self-righteousness because consistently favoring one's beliefs can reinforce a sense of being right. However, self-righteous people are not simply biased in their information processing, and not everyone with a myside bias is self-righteous. Myside bias relates to thinking, whereas self-righteousness pertains to attitude and behavior.

Karen is a pejorative slang term used to describe a stereotype of a middle-aged, often middle-class white woman perceived as entitled, demanding, and self-centered. The "Karen" stereotype is associated with insisting on "speaking to the manager" to escalate minor complaints or acting condescendingly or dismissively, especially toward service workers.

They often exhibit a sense of privilege or superiority, weaponizing social or racial privilege. They engage in public confrontations, sometimes calling authorities over trivial or fabricated grievances.

The stereotype most commonly refers to white women in their 40s to 60s. Still, the term has also been used more broadly and, at times, controversially, to criticize entitled or problematic behavior regardless of gender or race.

Hannah Dugan was born in 1959 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a "Double W," having earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies (1981) and her Juris Doctor (1987) from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She also holds a Master’s in American Studies from Boston College (1983).

Dugan spent much of her early career in public interest law. She worked as a litigation attorney for Legal Action of Wisconsin and the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, focusing on providing legal services to those unable to afford representation. Her advocacy extended to leading initiatives for domestic violence survivors, elder law projects, and various nonprofit organizations in the Milwaukee area. She served as executive director of Catholic Charities of Southeastern Wisconsin from 2006 to 2009, where she helped refugees and worked on anti-poverty efforts.

Dugan also held leadership roles in the legal community, including serving as president of the Milwaukee Bar Association (1999–2000). In 2012, the Milwaukee Bar Association recognized her pro bono work. She taught law and graduate students at Marquette University as a clinical supervisor and adjunct professor. She contributed to the professional discipline of attorneys as a referee for the Wisconsin Office of Lawyer Regulation.

In 2016, Dugan was elected to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Branch 31, defeating an incumbent with 65% of the vote. She was reelected without opposition in 2022, with her current term set to run through 2028. On the bench, she handled misdemeanor, probate, and civil cases and was known for her commitment to the rule of law and due process.

Dugan has remained active in numerous civic and professional organizations, including the Wisconsin Judicial Council, Wisconsin Trial Judges Association, Association for Women Lawyers, NAACP, League of Women Voters, and several local community groups. She is also a contributing author to the Milwaukee Independent.

On April 25, 2025, Judge Dugan was arrested by the FBI and charged with two federal offenses: obstruction of justice and concealing an individual from arrest. The charges stem from an incident on April 18, 2025, when Dugan allegedly directed a defendant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz—a Mexican national facing domestic battery charges and subject to a deportation order—to leave her courtroom through a non-public door, thereby evading Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents waiting to detain him.

Federal authorities allege Dugan's actions hindered their ability to enforce immigration law. Flores-Ruiz was later apprehended outside the courthouse after a brief pursuit. Dugan was released on her recognizance pending trial. On May 13, a federal grand jury indicted Dugan for concealing a person from arrest and obstruction of proceedings.

On April 29, 2025, the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Dugan from her judicial duties pending the outcome of her federal trial. Her caseload has been reassigned to another judge.

Judge Hannah Dugan’s career has been marked by advocacy for the vulnerable and a commitment to justice. However, she now faces a significant legal battle over her alleged actions in a high-profile immigration enforcement case.

Our legal system now controls her fate. Will her egregious self-righteousness or our government's suppression of the opposition bring her down?

The American dream is becoming the American nightmare.