Boston, Massachusetts – A Massachusetts judge, now serving in Boston Municipal Court, has been hit with fresh charges of “willful judicial misconduct” for allegedly orchestrating a dramatic courtroom escape for a twice-deported undocumented immigrant in 2018, allowing him to slip past waiting ICE agents.
Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph, 51, faces accusations from the Commission on Judicial Conduct that she conspired to obstruct justice by directing a court officer to lead defendant Jose Medina-Perez out a rear sally-port door after his arraignment on drug possession and fugitive charges. Medina-Perez, a Dominican national barred from the U.S. until 2027, was released on personal recognizance despite an ICE detainer. Joseph reportedly instructed the ICE agent to wait in the lobby, shut off the courtroom audio recorder for 52 seconds during sidebar talks, and failed to disclose the full details to disciplinary authorities.
The incident unfolded in Newton District Court, where prosecutors had agreed not to seek bail. Court officer Wesley MacGregor, also charged federally in 2019, allegedly escorted Medina-Perez, his attorney, and an interpreter downstairs, using his security card to unlock the back exit. ICE later arrested Medina-Perez outside the courthouse. Joseph was indicted on federal conspiracy and obstruction counts but saw charges dropped in 2021 under the Biden administration. MacGregor pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.
The Commission’s December filing accuses Joseph of bringing “disrepute” to the judiciary through dishonesty and non-cooperation. Her attorney, Thomas Hoopes, welcomed a hearing to air “all circumstances,” insisting she had no intent to aid evasion and expected ICE custody post-release. Joseph, appointed in 2017, expressed regret in a prior statement for harming the judiciary’s reputation.
The case, revived amid Trump’s immigration crackdown, highlights tensions between local courts and federal enforcement. Sanctuary advocates decry it as overreach, while critics like Rep. Jim Jordan call for stricter judicial accountability. As a hearing looms, Joseph’s fate could reshape courtroom protocols in blue states resisting deportations.
