Judge accused of enabling immigrant to escape ICE gets a rare public reprimand
The court said her suggestion to hold the defendant overnight and her order to stop audio recording created an appearance of impropriety.
- On Thursday, the Supreme Judicial Court issued a public reprimand against Newton District Court Judge Shelley Joseph for her conduct during a 2018 hearing, concluding her actions created an "appearance of impropriety" involving a defendant sought by ICE.
- During a 2018 hearing, Joseph was accused of colluding with the attorney for defendant Jose Medina-Perez to help him evade ICE agents, though the commission found she lacked knowledge of an "escape plan."
- The SJC also reprimanded Joseph for violating rule 211 and rule 1.1 by instructing the clerk to turn off courtroom audio recordings during the arraignment, capping a seven-year legal saga that saw federal charges dropped in 2022.
- Attorney Elizabeth Mulvey stated the eight-year period was "incredibly long and difficult" and praised the hearing officer for showing the federal prosecution was "baseless," while Joseph remains a judge in administrative duty.
- The case mirrors that of former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan, who resigned in Milwaukee County after facing impeachment threats, highlighting the ongoing clash between local authorities and federal immigration officials over immigration enforcement.
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Mass. judge accused of enabling immigrant to escape ICE gets a rare public reprimand
The highest court in Massachusetts has issued a public reprimand against a district court judge who was accused of allowing an immigrant to escape U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in 2018.
Associated Press News
Judge accused of enabling immigrant to escape ICE gets a rare public reprimand
The highest court in Massachusetts has issued a public reprimand against a district court judge who was accused of allowing an immigrant to escape U.S.
SJC issues public reprimand to Newton judge accused of helping defendant evade capture by ICE agents - The Boston Globe
The Supreme Judicial Court’s public reprimand of Judge Shelley Joseph had been recommended last year by a hearing officer with the state Commission on Judicial Conduct.
Judge reprimanded after detainee fled the court
BOSTON — Massachusetts’ high court adopted the Commission on Judicial Conduct’s recommendation to impose a sanction of public remand against Judge Shelley Richmond Joseph for creating the appearance of impropriety and failing to comply with the law. The judge failed to adequately explain why she asked to go off the record, or what she said while she was off the record, in proceedings involving a detainee. A court officer helped the detainee esca…
The highest court in Massachusetts issued a public reprimand on Thursday against a district court judge accused of allowing an immigrant to escape the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) for her initials in English.
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