The indictment of Judge Shelley Joseph and court officer Wesley MacGregor on federal charges of obstruction of justice is big local and national news today, as it should be.
But for the record, Judge Shelley Joseph is not a “Newton judge” as many local headlines read today. The City of Newton does not have its own judges. She’s a Massachusetts District Court Judge (and a Natick resident, I believe) who was assigned to work at Newton District Court, a state operated court house, when the alleged incident took place.
(Count WBUR as one media site that got it right)
Just sayin’
Thanks for pointing that out, Greg. The national media are unfamiliar with our court system. They are confusing our courts with the local municipal courts that do exist in most other parts of the country m
So, let me get this straight. She’s a judge in Newton., who hears cases for Newton crimes, but she’s not a Newton judge? Not in my back yard, right?!
Just sayin’
Any update for the poor women who was raped and a Newton judge granted a ridiculously low bail? Yes, the suspect simply left the country
http://www.bostonherald.com/2017/04/28/tape-reveals-judge-quick-with-low-bail/amp/
This is far worse example in my opinion…
This event actually made ABC World News Tonight. I thought I heard during the segment that Newton was a “Sanctuary City” instead of a “Welcoming City”. They played a partial recording of the Judge conspiring to let the defendant bypass ICE.
She may not be a “Newton Judge, but she certainly is an embarrassment to the judicial process in Massachusetts.
She’s a judge who works in the city of Newton and hears cases there. She’s a newton judge.
Lol, I guess that is good info. But… Not really critical for me! Bottom line. A real judge is helping illegal immigrants escape she is so screwed!
@Greg-
Joseph may not be from Newton,
but she is definitely “of” Newton.
She’s got the attitude, behavior and entitlement embodied in some insufferable Newtonites down pat.
Her former law office is on Wells Ave,
and she’s a former Democratic State Committee member., so for all intents and purposes, she belongs to Newton, just like the Tsarnaevs were owned by Cambridge who provided a safe harbor for them. Cambridge wouldn’t even bury Tsarnaev there, which shows you how welcoming these communities can be when things go wrong.
All I’ve been hearing about the last two years, ad naseum is “lack of respect for the rule of law”, but this woman can unilaterally let a two time deportee,
who was banished from the country until 2027 waltz out the door.
The arrogance is breath taking.
Newton may be a “welcoming” city but this type of behavior is not welcome here.
Frankly Greg, when city pols advertise the city as a welcoming or sanctuary city, this is what we get, and we deserve it. Now the whole country can get a good long look at us in the national spotlight. The judge’s perp walk was priceless!
Sorry, Greg, but today’s media shorthand dictates that Judge Joseph be referred to as a “Newton judge” and I, for one, am proud to associate her with Newton, because I agree 100% with Attorney General Healey that this was a “radical and politically motivated attack on our state and the independence of our courts.” I would expect to see a lot more support for her from Newton residents. I see no difference between whether we’re a “welcoming” city or a “sanctuary” city. We’re a city where the vast majority of our residents oppose the cruel racist policies promulgated by Trump, in this case through Lelling. Good for Judge Joseph for her humane act of resistance.
Many in the general public might be lead to believe by these headlines that Newton has its own court system and that what allegedly happened in court that day was perhaps the judge following the city’s welcoming city policy.
That’s just not accurate.
Shelley is a state judge who was assigned to the state’s district courthouse located in Newton. Her actions — agree with them or not — have nothing to do with the city’s policy.
That’s all I’m saying.
@Gerry…a fugitive from justice in Pennsylvania, narcotics possession and illegal entry after being deported two times…definitely the outstanding people we want in Newton. “Humane act of resistannce”….are you serious?
@Independent Man — the issue is not defining which “outstanding people we want in Newton” as you put it. It’s not our decision as to who comes to Newton because even in the Trump era it’s still a free country after all. The issue is whether Trump’s Gestapo-like ICE should be allowed to stalk our state courts in their zeal to round up and deport anyone they deem questionable, even law-abiding people appearing voluntarily in court on non-criminal business. If that’s the America you desire, then by all means continue to support our inhumane president. As I say, it’s still a free country, nobody has the right to stop you, at least for now.
@Gerry…don’t let your hatred for Trump cloud you better judgement. This individida was not a “law-abiding person” We live in a free society, but we also live in a country of laws. And I clearly stated 3 laws that this outstanding person committed. Breaking the law does allow on to be stopped…at lest in the country I want to live in. Immigration is a complex issue but this individual should not have been in the US,and once caught, yes I believe we have every right to make sure he is deported.
Let’s put a wall around Newton! It will keep all of the Newtonians safe, even the illegal immigrant felons. @Gerry I passionately disagree with everything you said above.
Just sayin’
@Gerry C-
I respectfully disagree. We have to get
the immigration stuff right, but we either have laws or we dont.
This case is no doubt a huge political cesspool. No one wins when our laws are flaunted.
We shouldn’t encourage liberal judicial activism or conservative judicial
activism
Gerry,
If we accept judges to rule in this manner then 2 people who commit the exact same crime are expected to be given total opposite sentences(based on race, sex, political affliation etc). Yes i know it occurs today, but this case is quite blatent. This was not for jaywalking or stealing a loaf of bread to feed your starving kids..
A reminder: this judge was indicted by a Boston grand jury; she will be tried before a jury of her peers from Massachusetts. It is ridiculous to cast this story as a battle between Newton and the Trump administration.
US Attorney Andrew “Stephen Miller” Lelling came flying into this city with absolutely no clue about how things work here – and now he and his team of fellow Trump charlatans down on Fan Pier are destined to spend their post-2020 careers as unappreciated adjuncts somewhere back from whence they came.
https://www2.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/04/26/andrew-lelling-top-federal-prosecutor-hot-seat/Tug7jHxTL9nmR4zKp726MO/story.html
This issue here is the defendant was before the Court for drug offenses. Let’s take the Immigration status off the table. The Judge had no right to let the person run out the back door of the Court House. She did not follow the rule of law. She was put on administrative leave without pay until this matter is adjudicated.