The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court issued a formal reprimand on September 10, 2026 to State District Court Judge Shelley Joseph for her conduct during court proceedings in a 2018 immigration case.
The court found that Judge Joseph "created an appearance of impropriety in violation of her duties" when she ordered the court clerk to shut off the courtroom's audio recording systems during proceedings. The reprimand arose from a case involving Oscar Manuel Peguero, who allegedly left the courtroom through a back exit while an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer was waiting outside.
In 2019, federal prosecutors charged Joseph with conspiracy to obstruct justice, aiding and abetting obstruction of justice, and aiding and abetting obstruction of a federal proceeding in connection with the case. The Biden Administration dropped the charges in 2022. According to the federal complaint, Peguero had been arrested for drug possession and had an outstanding warrant in Pennsylvania for being a fugitive from justice. An ICE detainer was lodged for him on March 30, 2018, the same day of his arrest, but was not honored.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a statement responding to the reprimand. "This judicial misconduct reflects what DHS is facing across the country," said DHS General Counsel James Percival.