Judge accused of 'willful misconduct' for letting illegal immigrant escape court

Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald on Dec 2, 2024

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BOSTON — Judge Shelley Joseph is being hit with charges of “willful judicial misconduct” for bringing “disrepute” to the courts for allowing an illegal immigrant to escape ICE arrest in 2018.

In a scathing rebuke, the state’s Commission on Judicial Conduct hits Joseph — now serving in the Boston Municipal Court earning more than $207,000 a year — for violating the “Code of Judicial Conduct” by “failing to comply with the law.”

Joseph was charged by the office of former U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling, a Trump appointee, of helping a twice-deported illegal immigrant evade federal immigration officials in 2018 while in her Newton court.

Those charges were dropped and the case kicked over to the Commission on Judicial Conduct, which set forth its stinging summary of the case that will be heard in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

The commission rattles off a series of charges — including Joseph’s failure “to cooperate and be candid and honest with judicial disciplinary authorities.”

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