Massachusetts Judge Publicly Rebuked for Aiding Immigrant’s ICE Escape

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court publicly reprimanded Newton District Court Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph for willful judicial misconduct tied to helping an undocumented immigrant escape ICE custody via a courthouse back door during a 2018 hearing. The reprimand followed a hearing officer’s recommendation and said her actions created the appearance of impropriety and violated her duties, even as related federal obstruction charges were later dismissed. Joseph remains on the bench and is set to resume administrative duties after a lengthy suspension.