Massachusetts Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph is facing a formal judicial misconduct hearing over a 2018 incident in which she allegedly helped an undocumented immigrant evade arrest by ICE. The immigrant, Jose Medina-Perez, had a fugitive warrant and prior deportations. Prosecutors allege that Judge Joseph instructed staff to mislead ICE and allowed Medina-Perez to exit through a rear courthouse door, avoiding detention. Court officer Wesley MacGregor also faces scrutiny for opening the restricted exit.
While federal obstruction charges against Joseph were dropped in 2022 as part of an agreement, she referred herself to the state’s judicial conduct commission, which now accuses her of “willful misconduct.” Her defense argues that media and political bias have distorted the case, and she has not been criminally convicted. The hearing could result in suspension or removal from the bench. The case reflects broader national tensions over immigration enforcement and judicial independence, especially in states with sanctuary policies. A final decision is pending from the Commission on Judicial Conduct.
