Boston Judge Under Investigation for Allegedly Helping Illegal Alien Evade ICE During Court Proceedings

A high-profile misconduct hearing is underway in Boston for Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph, who stands accused of aiding an undocumented immigrant in evading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a 2018 court proceeding. The case, which has sparked intense local debate and attracted national attention, centers on allegations that Judge Joseph allowed Jose Medina-Perez—a Dominican national with a history of deportations—to exit the courthouse through an alternate door rather than face ICE custody waiting in the building’s lobby.

Medina-Perez, who appeared in Newton District Court to face drug charges and a fugitive warrant from Pennsylvania, was subject to a federal ban prohibiting his re-entry into the United States until 2027. On that day, court records allege, an ICE agent had been stationed in the courthouse lobby with the expectation that Medina-Perez would be released through the main entrance. Instead, authorities claim, Judge Joseph conspired with court staff and a trial court officer to facilitate his departure through the rear sally-port exit—bypassing the federal agent entirely.

During opening statements at Suffolk Superior Court on Monday, Joseph’s legal counsel made it clear that she faces only civil misconduct—not criminal—charges, and strongly defended her character before the presiding judge. Counsel argued that public perception of the incident has overtaken facts, stating, “100% would tell you she did it. It has become such a part of local lore in Boston that the media, for the most part, have dropped the niceties of ‘alleged’ or ‘charged.’” The defense emphasized that Joseph has never been convicted of a crime, despite widespread coverage and speculation.

The hearing also featured testimony from Medina-Perez's former attorney, David Jellinek, who agreed to cooperate with investigators in exchange for immunity. Federal prosecutors highlighted a key point in the proceedings: court audio was intentionally turned off for nearly a minute following Joseph’s instruction, after which she approved the defendant’s release. Conversation transcripts from that day reveal Joseph telling the clerk, “I’m not gonna allow them [ICE agents] to come in here. But he’s been released on this,” cementing federal suspicions that the subsequent escape was premeditated.

Both Joseph and former court officer Wesley MacGregor were indicted in 2019 on obstruction of justice charges, though both pleaded not guilty. Ultimately, the Justice Department agreed to dismiss the criminal charges against Joseph in September 2022 after she self-reported to the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct and admitted to certain conduct regarding the case. However, the commission pressed forward with formal disciplinary measures, accusing the judge of “willful judicial misconduct” and conduct “prejudicial to the administration of justice.”

As the misconduct hearing continues, Judge Denis McInerney is expected to issue a detailed report once proceedings conclude, which will likely determine Joseph’s future on the bench. The case raises significant questions about the balance between immigration enforcement and judicial independence, and is set to further inflame an already divisive debate in Massachusetts and beyond.