A representation of courtroom justice and the legal process.
Judge Shelley Joseph is set to appear before the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct on June 9 to address serious accusations of judicial misconduct related to an immigration case. The hearing follows allegations of violating the ‘Code of Judicial Conduct’ after she allegedly assisted an undocumented immigrant, Jose Medina-Perez, in evading ICE. Despite federal charges being dropped, Joseph now faces formal allegations and maintains her innocence amid concerns for her judicial reputation.
Boston, MA – Judge Shelley Joseph is scheduled to appear before the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct for a hearing on June 9 centered around serious accusations of judicial misconduct related to an immigration case. The hearing will start with a tour of the Newton courthouse at 7:30 a.m. and will then continue at the Suffolk County Courthouse in Boston, where formal proceedings will take place.
The hearing is presided over by Attorney Denis J. McInerney, appointed as a Hearing Officer by the Supreme Judicial Court. Within the context of this hearing, Joseph faces allegations of violating the “Code of Judicial Conduct” by failing to adhere to the law, specifically concerning an incident from 2018. Details surrounding the case suggest that she allegedly assisted an undocumented immigrant, Jose Medina-Perez, in evading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a court appearance.
At the time of the incident, Medina-Perez had been previously deported twice and was facing a fugitive charge. In the wake of the incident, former U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling initially charged Joseph with conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice; however, these federal charges were dropped in 2022. Following the dismissal of the federal charges, Joseph’s case was referred to the Commission on Judicial Conduct, which subsequently accused her of failing to cooperate with investigators and being dishonest regarding the alleged misconduct.
The formal charges leveled against Joseph include claims of “willful judicial misconduct.” Despite the serious nature of the accusations, Joseph has consistently denied any wrongdoing and states that she had no prior knowledge of any plans regarding Medina-Perez’s evasion of ICE enforcement. She acknowledged her regret regarding the negative impact that this incident has had on the reputation of the Massachusetts judiciary.
Judge Joseph currently earns an annual salary of $207,855. Earlier in her career, she faced suspension in April 2019 following the federal indictment but was reinstated later that year after complying with the commission’s request for self-referral, indicating her willingness to engage with judicial review processes.
The upcoming hearing is expected to resemble a trial, allowing both the commission and Joseph’s legal team to present evidence and call witnesses. The outcome of this hearing could have significant implications for Judge Joseph’s career as well as the handling of judicial procedures concerning immigration cases in the state.
This case is part of a larger narrative concerning the interplay between state judicial authorities and federal immigration enforcement. It comes on the heels of similar incidents involving judges navigating complex immigration issues, including a recent case in Wisconsin that has raised similar concerns regarding judicial integrity and adherence to federal laws.
The proceedings on June 9 will provide clarity on the specifics of the allegations against Joseph and the strength of the evidence supporting the claims from the commission. As the hearing approaches, stakeholders within both the legal and immigration communities will be closely monitoring the developments and implications for judicial authority in immigration matters.
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