Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph of Massachusetts is currently facing a misconduct hearing over allegations that she helped a non-citizen evade federal immigration authorities in 2018. The case centers on an incident at Newton District Court involving Jose Medina-Perez, a Dominican national previously deported twice, who was appearing in court on drug charges and a fugitive warrant.

At the time, a U.S. immigration agent was waiting to take Medina-Perez into custody. According to federal prosecutors, Judge Joseph allegedly instructed a court clerk to mislead the agent into waiting in the lobby while the defendant was quietly allowed to exit the courthouse through another route. The courtroom audio was also reportedly turned off for 52 seconds during a key exchange.

Joseph’s attorney has argued that she has not been convicted of any crime and criticized public perception of the case. He noted that while opinions about her actions vary widely, what remains undisputed is her involvement in the incident, which has become a point of local debate.

The misconduct hearing is taking place in Suffolk Superior Court, where Judge Denis McInerney is overseeing the case. He will issue a report with findings and recommendations once the proceedings conclude. The focus is on whether Judge Joseph’s actions constitute “willful judicial misconduct” and behavior that undermines public trust in the justice system.

One of the key testimonies came from Medina-Perez’s attorney, David Jellinek, who signed an immunity agreement in exchange for cooperating with the investigation. The events described include a court officer using a secure exit to allow Medina-Perez to leave undetected.

Though federal charges were dropped in 2022 after Joseph self-reported to the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct, the state-level investigation continues. The outcome could set a precedent for how judicial conduct is evaluated in immigration-related matters.