Indicted Judge Joseph doubles down on political bias claim ahead of hearing

Suspended state judge Shelley Joseph is insisting a search of federal records for political bias in her prosecution is necessary, a day after prosecutors told a judge they’d heard enough briefings ahead of Tuesday’s hearing.

Joseph, still receiving her $184,000-a-year paycheck while facing a federal obstruction of justice charge, is accused of aiding an illegal immigrant’s escape from an ICE agent in her Newton District courtroom in 2018. Retired court officer Wesley MacGregor is also facing the charge for allegedly leading the illegal immigrant through the courtroom’s lockup and exit.

“Contrary to government claims, Judge Joseph has laid out precisely why the search is necessary, how the search should be conducted, what or whom to search, where to search, and what to search for,” defense attorney Thomas Hoopes wrote in the opening of Thursday’s brief.

Joseph and her counsel have argued U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling’s public comments and past Herald editorial, ICE Boston acting field director Todd Lyons’ interviews with Herald columnist Howie Carr and President Trump’s attack on judges are all contributing factors to her prejudiced prosecution.

The illegal immigrant’s defense attorney has also come under fire from Joseph for an alleged “extraordinary sweetheart deal” by feds granting him immunity despite his alleged arrangement of the escape plan.

Joseph is also seeking the statements of ICE officers who she believes may have failed to disclose to their supervisors an earlier offer to head to the courtroom exit where the illegal immigrant later escaped.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3dcxeXx