Source: Fox News
Summary
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rebuked Judge Shelley Joseph for her role in a case involving Jose Medina-Perez, an illegal immigrant who evaded ICE arrest. The court ruled that Joseph’s actions, including shutting off a courtroom recording, created an appearance of impropriety. The case began in 2018 when Medina-Perez left the courthouse through a rear exit while an ICE officer waited. A hearing officer had recommended disciplinary action, and Joseph was suspended for three years. The court found she was unaware of a plan to help Medina-Perez evade ICE. Joseph was later assigned to administrative duties in Boston.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Judge Shelley Joseph was rebuked for shutting off a courtroom recording.
Jose Medina-Perez left the courthouse through a rear exit while ICE waited.
The court found she was unaware of the plan to help him evade arrest.
Releasing him on personal recognizance led to a long legal process.
Author: Evan Null
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s Decision
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has officially reprimanded Judge Shelley Joseph for her actions in a case involving Jose Medina-Perez, an illegal immigrant who evaded ICE arrest. The court’s decision was based on a sidebar conversation during which Joseph instructed her clerk to turn off the courtroom recording system. This action was deemed to have created an appearance of impropriety, violating her judicial duties.
The Legal Saga of Jose Medina-Perez
The legal saga began on April 2, 2018, when Jose Medina-Perez left the Newton District Court through a rear courthouse exit while an ICE officer was waiting in the lobby to take him into custody. Medina-Perez, of the Dominican Republic, had been in Joseph’s courtroom to be arraigned on a fugitive-from-justice charge from Pennsylvania. The case took a long and complicated path, leading to multiple legal actions and a federal indictment.
Judge Shelley Joseph’s Role and Consequences
Judge Shelley Joseph was suspended from the bench for three years after being indicted on charges of obstruction of justice. The court found that she was unaware of a plan to help Medina-Perez evade ICE by escorting him to the courthouse lockup, where he was released through a rear sally port exit. Despite this, the Supreme Judicial Court still reprimanded her for her conduct during the sidebar conversation.
Media and Public Perception
Judge Joseph’s attorney, Elizabeth Mulvey, claimed that the case had been distorted in the media, with many believing that her client “let an illegal immigrant out of the door.” The media coverage contributed to public perception, which was later challenged by the court’s findings. Mulvey expressed gratitude for the hearing officer’s efforts, stating that the case was a baseless federal prosecution from the beginning.
Current Status of Judge Shelley Joseph
Judge Shelley Joseph, who remains a judge, was assigned in December to administrative duties in the Boston Municipal Court. The case has been a long and difficult eight years for her, as noted by her attorney. Despite the reprimand, Joseph is still active in the judicial system, now handling administrative tasks in Boston.
