Judge Joseph Michaud of Boston, MA; ethical goblin

The state of Massachusetts provided Joseph L. Michaud with a law license in 1992 after he graduated from the University of New Hampshire School of Law.

FYI: Gov. Charlie Baker was duped into nominating Joey as a Massachusetts Housing Court judge in 2018. Joey didn’t obtain the nomination because he was the most qualified attorney in the greater Boston area. He received it because he had proven to be a reliable lackey for the local political hacks.

The Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct found Joey guilty of engaging in the following misconduct.

• Engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice
• Engaged in conduct that brought the judicial office into disrepute
• Joey’s improper social media posts related to political figures, political events, and politicized public events
• Cast reasonable doubt on his capacity to act impartially
• Made posts on social media that expressed views on political candidates, political figures and issues, and posts that could create the appearance of bias based on gender, ethnicity, or immigration status
• Failed to refrain from participating in an extrajudicial activity that would appear to a reasonable person to undermine his independence, integrity, or impartiality
• Engaged in conduct unbecoming a judicial officer
• Improperly endorsed or opposed candidates for public office

Asa direct consequence of his misconduct, the Massachusetts Supreme Court punished Joey by gifting him with a complimentary reprimand.

As we speak (ca. February 2023), Joey practices his so-called brand of jurisprudence as a judge of the Metro South Division of the Massachusetts Housing Court in Boston, Massachusetts.