Former Newton District Court Judge Shelley Joseph is set to appear before a Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct hearing this Monday regarding serious allegations that she helped a man wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) evade federal authorities.
This upcoming hearing marks a significant moment in Joseph’s legal journey, which has been ongoing for over five years since she was charged with serious federal crimes.
The commission will investigate the circumstances surrounding a courthouse incident in 2018 that led to the charges against the judge, examining whether she violated the ethical rules governing judicial conduct.
In the formal charges filed by the Commission, it is alleged that Judge Joseph engaged in willful judicial misconduct, bringing disrepute to her office and acting in a way prejudicial to the administration of justice.
The accusations stem from an incident involving a man named Jose Medina-Perez, who was under a deportation order at the time.
It is claimed that during an unrelated criminal hearing, the judge held an off-the-record conference with Medina-Perez’s defense attorney and a prosecutor who had indicated they did not intend to keep him in state custody.
During this unrecorded conference, Judge Joseph allegedly made inquiries that could lead a reasonable observer to believe she sought to assist the defense counsel in identifying a way for the defendant to evade ICE.
The defense attorney reportedly informed Judge Joseph that if she allowed him to take Medina-Perez to the downstairs lockup area, he believed he could facilitate his client’s release via a rear exit of the courthouse.
However, Joseph contends that she did not permit such an arrangement, suggesting instead that the defense attorney misled federal prosecutors searching for a scapegoat in the situation.
In her defense, Joseph asserts that her suggestion to hold Medina-Perez for an additional day was a means for his attorney to determine whether he was indeed the person targeted by ICE officials.
This followed state prosecutors admitting they had likely mistaken Medina-Perez for another individual wanted for a DUI charge in Pennsylvania.
Judge Joseph claims her intention in allowing Medina-Perez access to the court’s holding area was to provide the attorney with a private space to communicate with his client through an interpreter and gather personal belongings.
She maintains that the media attention and scrutiny resulting from the incident were not something she sought.
Originally facing federal charges in 2019 for allegedly obstructing federal agents and committing perjury, these charges were dismissed in 2022.
This dismissal came after Judge Joseph agreed to submit to the Massachusetts Commission’s scrutiny, with the Biden Administration concluding that state judicial oversight was the appropriate course of action rather than federal prosecution.
The case bears similarities to a recent incident involving a judge from Wisconsin, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, who has faced federal prosecution for allegedly helping a man wanted by ICE evade capture by taking a door not typically used by the public.
In April, Dugan was charged with obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest, and she has pleaded not guilty while asserting a defense of judicial immunity.
As Joseph’s hearing approaches, it is set to kick off at 7:30 a.m. with an assessment by the appointed Hearing Officer of the Newton District Court, the site of the alleged misconduct.
Following the assessment, a formal hearing will take place at the Suffolk County Courthouse, where the commission will deliberate on the allegations against her.
The outcome of this hearing could significantly impact Joseph’s career and the public’s perception of judicial accountability within the Massachusetts legal system.
image source from：https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/06/08/hearing-for-judge-accused-of-helping-man-sought-by-ice-escape-begins-monday/
