Judge Shelley Richmond Joseph’s case has dragged on for over seven years, and now we finally have a clear picture. After a long investigation, a Massachusetts judicial panel has decided she didn’t knowingly help an illegal alien escape Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. But even though she didn’t know about the plan, she still made mistakes that can’t be ignored.
Here’s what happened: Back in April 2018, ICE sent an agent to Newton District Court to pick up Jose Medina-Perez, an illegal alien from the Dominican Republic. This wasn’t just any undocumented immigrant—this guy had already been deported twice and was banned from entering the U.S. for 20 years. Yet, somehow, he was back in the country and standing in front of a judge.
According to reports, ICE was expecting to arrest him after his court hearing. But instead of going out the main door where the ICE agent was waiting, Medina-Perez was allowed to leave through the back door of the courthouse. That exit leads to a parking lot, not the front lobby. It looked like a sneaky move to help him avoid ICE.
At the time, Judge Joseph was accused of helping him escape. She was charged with obstruction of justice. That’s a serious accusation for anyone, let alone someone wearing a robe and sitting on the bench. But now, a new report says she didn’t actually approve any sort of escape plan. According to the findings of the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct, the judge thought Medina-Perez was just going back to the lockup area to talk to his lawyer and interpreter. She didn’t know he’d walk out the back door and disappear.
Still, this doesn’t let her off the hook.
Judge Joseph turned off the courtroom recorder during a private conversation with the defense attorney and the assistant district attorney. That alone violates proper courtroom procedures. Courts are supposed to be transparent. Turning off the recorder raises suspicion, especially when someone ends up dodging ICE right after.
The hearing officer in the case, Denis McInerney, said Joseph didn’t lie or try to cover anything up after the fact. But he still believes she should be publicly reprimanded for her part in what happened. Even without knowing about the escape plan, she made choices that led to a serious breach in courtroom integrity.
Let’s not forget, ICE agents put their safety on the line every day. When judges or other officials interfere with their work, it not only allows dangerous individuals to roam free, it puts citizens and law enforcement at risk. Medina-Perez wasn’t a first-time offender. He had already been deported twice, and yet here he was, given the opportunity to escape justice again.
This case is part of a larger problem. Across the country, we’ve seen liberal judges and officials bending over backward to protect illegal aliens, even those with criminal records. The Biden years were full of this nonsense—tying ICE’s hands and letting criminals walk. But under President Trump’s leadership, ICE is back to doing its job the right way. We’ve seen a rise in deportations and a stronger stance against sanctuary policies that shield illegals from enforcement.
And this isn’t the only case. In Milwaukee, another judge, Hannah Dugan, was actually arrested by the FBI for helping an illegal alien avoid ICE. The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended her for it. This kind of behavior isn’t just wrong—it’s dangerous.
Our courts should be places of law and order, not safe havens for lawbreakers. Judges are supposed to uphold the law, not twist it for political reasons or personal beliefs. Judge Joseph may not have knowingly helped Medina-Perez escape, but her actions still had consequences. A public reprimand is the least that should happen.
We all want to believe in a justice system that works. That means holding everyone accountable—especially those who wear the robe.
