Massachusetts high court issues public reprimand to Judge Shelley Joseph

The short version

• The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts publicly reprimanded District Court Judge Shelley Joseph for creating an appearance of impropriety in a 2018 matter involving an immigrant facing ICE custody.[ABC News]
• Joseph was previously accused of helping the defendant leave via a rear courthouse door and had ordered courtroom recording equipment deactivated.[ABC News]
• Federal obstruction charges were dismissed in 2022 after Joseph agreed to refer herself to state judicial conduct regulators.[ABC News]
• Joseph served an over three-year suspension after her 2019 indictment, was assigned to administrative tasks in December, and will resume duties in Boston Municipal Court.[ABC News]

Key facts

• The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts issued a public reprimand against District Court Judge Shelley Joseph.[ABC News]
• The ruling determined Joseph created an appearance of impropriety and failed to follow the law by suggesting an overnight detention and directing that courtroom audio recording be stopped.[ABC News]
• Federal obstruction charges brought in 2019 were dismissed in 2022 after Joseph agreed to refer herself to the Commission on Judicial Conduct.[ABC News]
• The Commission on Judicial Conduct concluded that Joseph engaged in willful judicial misconduct that discredited the judicial office.[ABC News]
• Joseph was suspended from judicial duties for over three years before being assigned to administrative duties in Boston Municipal Court, where she will resume responsibilities.[ABC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Judge accused of enabling immigrant to escape ICE gets a rare public reprimandABC News - US News