Judge Who Allegedly Obstructed ICE Arrest Acquitted

BOSTON, MA – In a case that has drawn significant attention, Massachusetts District Court Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph was acquitted on charges related to allegedly obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents attempting to detain an undocumented immigrant in her courtroom in 2018. The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, has reignited discussions about judicial authority, immigration enforcement, and the separation of powers.

The incident occurred in April 2018 at Newton District Court, where Judge Joseph was presiding over a case involving an undocumented immigrant, identified in court documents as "A.S.," who was charged with drug possession and being a fugitive from justice in Pennsylvania. According to federal prosecutors, ICE agents were present in the courtroom to take A.S. into custody upon release. However, Judge Joseph allegedly allowed A.S. to leave through a rear courthouse door, preventing ICE from making the arrest. Prosecutors claimed this action constituted obstruction of justice and perjury, pointing to courtroom audio where Joseph and a defense attorney discussed avoiding ICE detention.

The defense argued that Judge Joseph acted within her judicial discretion to manage her courtroom and ensure safety. They contended that no federal law required her to assist ICE and that her actions were not intended to obstruct justice but to maintain order. After a high-profile trial, a federal jury in Boston acquitted Joseph of all charges, finding insufficient evidence of criminal intent.

The case has been polarizing. Supporters of Judge Joseph, including immigrant advocacy groups, hailed the acquittal as a victory for judicial independence and resistance to aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. Critics, including some Republican lawmakers and immigration hardliners, decried the ruling as undermining federal authority.

Legal experts noted the case’s broader implications. “This ruling reinforces that judges have significant discretion in their courtrooms, especially when federal and state priorities clash,” said Professor Sarah Sherman-Stokes of Boston University School of Law in an interview with The Boston Globe. However, former ICE official John Amaya told Fox News that the acquittal could embolden local officials to resist federal immigration efforts, potentially complicating enforcement.

The Department of Justice, which brought the charges, expressed disappointment but declined to comment on potential appeals. Judge Joseph, who faced suspension from her judicial duties during the trial, is expected to resume her role, though the Massachusetts judiciary has not yet confirmed her reinstatement.

The case stems from a broader tension between sanctuary city policies in Massachusetts and federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Newton, like Boston, has policies limiting cooperation with ICE, which prosecutors argued did not justify Joseph’s actions. The acquittal may prompt further legal and political battles over the role of state officials in immigration matters.

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