Hearing for Boston Judge Accused of Misconduct

A judge from Boston, Shelley M. Richmond Joseph, is facing accusations of misconduct related to a 2018 case involving immigration violations. Specifically, she’s charged with assisting an illegal immigrant, Jose Medina Perez, who had been deported twice and was barred from returning to the U.S. until 2027. Medina Perez was in court on drug possession charges when he was allegedly helped to evade federal authorities.

On Monday, Joseph appeared at Suffolk Superior Court for a hearing regarding these allegations. Judge Denis McInerney noted that a report will follow after the hearings are concluded.

At the outset, Joseph’s lawyer stressed that she has not been convicted of any crime. He suggested that if you were to poll people on the street, opinions would be divided. Half might label her a criminal for her actions, while the other half could see her as a folk hero. But, he insisted, everyone would agree on one point: she did help the defendant evade capture.

Meanwhile, Medina Perez’s lawyer, David Jelinek, is cooperating with federal authorities as part of a deal to testify against Joseph. It’s worth mentioning that back in 2019, both Joseph and another court official, Wesley McGregor, were charged with obstructing justice but both pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors allege that Joseph directed court staff to keep people in the lobby, allowing Medina Perez to slip out through a rear exit to avoid U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents that were waiting. During the proceedings, Joseph reportedly turned off the courtroom audio recorder for around 52 seconds before announcing the defendant’s release.

In September 2022, the Department of Justice agreed to withdraw charges against Judge Joseph, citing the Massachusetts Judicial Conduct (CJC) and some recognized facts in the case. However, the Massachusetts CJC has moved forward with formal accusations against her for “willful judicial misconduct” and alleged bias against judicial administration.