A judicial misconduct hearing is underway in Boston for Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph, accused of helping an undocumented immigrant, Jose Medina-Perez, evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2018. Medina-Perez, a Dominican national previously deported twice and banned from reentry until 2027, faced drug charges and a fugitive warrant in Newton District Court. An ICE agent was present to detain him, but according to prosecutors, Judge Joseph facilitated his escape by diverting the agent and allowing Medina-Perez to exit through a restricted courthouse door. She allegedly instructed her clerk to mislead the ICE agent, turned off the courtroom recorder for 52 seconds to discuss the plan, and permitted the defense attorney to take the defendant downstairs, where a court officer opened the rear exit.

Though federal charges were dropped in 2022 after Joseph admitted to key facts and referred herself to the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct (CJC), the CJC continued disciplinary proceedings. They accuse her of willful misconduct and actions prejudicial to justice. The hearing, now in Suffolk Superior Court, will determine if she violated her judicial oath. Joseph’s defense argues she was never convicted and that public perception has distorted the truth. Her attorney stated public opinion is split—some call her a criminal, others a folk hero.

David Jellinek, Medina-Perez’s attorney, is a key witness after securing immunity. His testimony links Joseph to decisions made during the 52-second audio blackout. The case is politically charged, echoing similar cases across the U.S. The outcome could affect Judge Joseph’s future and set precedent for how courts handle federal immigration enforcement.