Judge accused of enabling immigrant to escape ICE gets a rare public reprimand

Massachusetts' top court publicly reprimanded Judge Shelley Joseph over a 2018 incident in which she was accused of facilitating an immigrant's escape from ICE custody and creating an appearance of impropriety.
Federal obstruction charges were dropped in 2022 after she agreed to a referral; the state Commission on Judicial Conduct later found willful misconduct and recommended the reprimand.
The case drew national attention and mirrors similar clashes over immigration enforcement involving other judges, fueling political backlash and debate.