Whispers had been swirling around the Boston courthouse for months, hinting at a drama far more calculated than a mere oversight.
Staff exchanged hushed speculations about a back-door exit, a vanished defendant, and a judge suddenly thrust into a political maelstrom. Now, with the state’s long-awaited investigation finally complete, the truth has taken a turn few anticipated.
A Boston judge, Shelley Richmond Joseph, accused of helping an undocumented immigrant evade ICE custody, has been cleared of knowing participation in any escape plan. The state investigation concluded she had unintentionally been involved in circumstances that allowed the defendant to leave the courthouse.
The incident centered on Medina-Perez, who had appeared in court on drug charges while also facing a fugitive warrant from Pennsylvania. Judge Joseph allowed him to return to the courthouse’s holding area to meet privately with his attorney—a standard procedure in her view. Later, the defendant exited the building with his lawyer and a court officer, unknown to Joseph.
Hearing Officer Denis J. McInerney reviewed the case and found that, despite claims from an interpreter and another lawyer, Joseph had no awareness of any escape attempt. McInerney accepted Joseph’s account and corroborating testimony from another attorney, concluding that she had not been informed of the plan and did not mislead court officials afterward.
However, McInerney recommended a public reprimand for holding an off-the-record sidebar discussion—an action that violated court protocol and created the appearance of impropriety.
“I find that Judge Joseph had no knowledge of—let alone approved—any scheme to assist the defendant’s escape, and she did not mislead court officials. Still, she unintentionally created the appearance of bias and misconduct,” McInerney wrote.
The media frenzy surrounding the case had already painted Joseph in starkly contrasting lights.
Her attorney noted the narrative’s persistence: “Ask anyone on the street, and they’ll say Judge Joseph let an illegal immigrant slip out the back of the courthouse. Some call her a criminal; others a hero. Either way, the story has taken on a life of its own.”
Medina-Perez’s defense lawyer, David Jellinek, signed an immunity deal with federal prosecutors in exchange for his testimony. Prosecutors pointed to several actions Joseph took: asking a court clerk to tell the ICE officer to wait in the lobby, turning off the courtroom audio recorder for 52 seconds, and agreeing when the defense lawyer requested a private meeting with the defendant downstairs.
After the back sally-port door was opened by court officer MacGregor, Medina-Perez left the building unseen.
The Department of Justice eventually dropped charges against Joseph in September 2022 after she voluntarily reported herself and disclosed key details to the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct (CJC). Nevertheless, the CJC filed formal allegations accusing her of “willful judicial misconduct” and conduct “prejudicial to the administration of justice.”
✅ Conclusion
The investigation revealed a far more nuanced story than the sensational headlines suggested. While Judge Joseph did not knowingly aid the defendant’s escape, her decision to go off the record and the surrounding circumstances created an appearance of wrongdoing that continues to cloud her reputation.
The case underscores the delicate balance judges must maintain between procedural protocol and managing politically charged, high-stakes courtroom situations—and how a single moment can ignite national controversy.