Boston, MA — Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph Finds Herself at the Heart of a Legal Storm Amid Misconduct Allegations for Helping Illegal Migrant Evade ICE
The controversy surrounding Judge Joseph reignited as she faces formal accusations of misconduct linked to a startling 2018 incident involving Jose Medina-Perez, a Dominican national and twice-deported illegal migrant.
Medina-Perez appeared in Newton District Court on dr*g charges and a fugitive warrant from Pennsylvania. Despite a federal ban preventing his reentry into the U.S. until 2027, Medina-Perez reportedly slipped out of the courthouse undetected — sparking outrage nationwide.
Federal Prosecutors Allege a Coordinated Escape
Prosecutors claim that Judge Joseph instructed the courtroom clerk to turn off the audio recording for 52 crucial seconds — a move they say enabled Medina-Perez’s discreet exit through a rear door, while ICE agents waited at the courthouse front. According to Fox News, this pause allowed for coordination of the defendant’s escape.
Joseph’s defense attorney pushed back, noting, “It has become such a part of Boston’s local lore that the media often report it as fact — that she walked him out the back and wished him Godspeed.”
Immunity Deal Reveals New Details
Testimony from Medina-Perez’s attorney, David Jellinek, who is cooperating under an immunity agreement, shed light on courtroom interactions that day. Court records indicate Judge Joseph allegedly approved a request by the defense attorney to meet the defendant downstairs — near the rear exit.
The case is now before Suffolk Superior Court Judge Denis McInerney, who will issue a formal report and recommendation after the hearings conclude. His decision could reshape the boundaries of judicial immunity, particularly in cases intersecting with immigration enforcement and federal law.
Public Opinion Divided Amid High Stakes
The fallout has sparked intense debate across Massachusetts and beyond. Supporters praise Judge Joseph as a protector of human dignity and due process, while critics accuse her of obstructing justice and compromising national security.
Federal authorities have yet to announce whether new criminal charges will be pursued. However, the outcome of this high-profile misconduct hearing is poised to carry significant legal and political weight in an already charged national conversation over immigration policy.