Judicial Watchdog Sets Hearing for Judge Who Aided Immigration Escape

Wooden gavel on a block with books behind.

Massachusetts Judge Mark Summerville faces a June 9 judicial misconduct hearing after allegedly interfering with an ICE arrest and holding a federal agent in contempt, sparking a heated legal battle with Suffolk County’s District Attorney.

Quick Takes

Judge Summerville found ICE Agent Sullivan in contempt for arresting an undocumented defendant during his trial, then dismissed the case entirely
Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden refused to prosecute the ICE agent, stating the contempt finding violated the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution
The defendant, Wilson Martell-Lebron, was on trial for falsifying RMV documents when ICE arrested him
The case has become a flashpoint in tensions between state courts and federal immigration enforcement under President Trump’s administration

Judge’s Contempt Finding Sparks Legal Controversy

The Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct has scheduled a June 9 hearing for Boston Judge Mark Summerville following his controversial handling of a case involving federal immigration authorities. Summerville found ICE Agent Brian Sullivan in contempt after Sullivan arrested Wilson Martell-Lebron outside the courthouse during his ongoing criminal trial. The defendant was facing charges for falsely applying for a license and forging Registry of Motor Vehicles documents in a case that originated in 2020.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden strongly criticized Judge Summerville’s actions, refusing to pursue the contempt charges against Sullivan and filing an appeal against the dismissal of charges against Martell-Lebron. The judicial controversy highlights growing tensions between state courts and federal immigration enforcement priorities under President Trump’s administration, which has emphasized stronger border security and internal enforcement measures.

Constitutional Clash Between State and Federal Authority

DA Hayden explicitly stated that Judge Summerville’s contempt finding was barred by the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes that federal law takes precedence over state law. The unusual case began when ICE arrested Martell-Lebron on the first day of his trial, preventing him from returning to court the following day. While the District Attorney’s office sought a writ of habeas corpus to have the defendant returned to state custody, Judge Summerville declined to issue it.

“Judge Summerville’s finding of contempt was premised upon the false conclusion that only ICE’s arrest of the defendant prevented him from being present at his trial,” Hayden wrote. “In reality, Judge Summerville himself also prevented the defendant from being present at his trial by refusing to issue a writ of habeas corpus for the defendant after he was taken into ICE custody. Therefore, the factual basis for his finding of contempt was flawed. Moreover, the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution bars this office from prosecuting Officer Sullivan for arresting the defendant pursuant to federal law.”

This clash between state judicial authority and federal immigration enforcement highlights ongoing jurisdictional questions about courthouse arrests and their potential impact on the administration of justice. The June hearing will examine whether Judge Summerville’s actions constituted judicial misconduct by improperly interfering with lawful federal immigration enforcement operations.

Prosecutorial Misconduct Claims Rejected

Judge Summerville’s dismissal of the case against Martell-Lebron cited prosecutorial misconduct, a finding that DA Hayden strongly contested. According to Hayden, the assigned prosecutors were not found to have engaged in any misconduct, making the dismissal improper. The judge’s decision to dismiss the case “with prejudice” means the charges cannot be refiled, effectively providing complete legal relief to the defendant who was facing document forgery charges.

“Therefore, this Office finds that criminal charges based upon Judge Summerville’s patently illegal contempt finding and referral are not warranted,” Hayden said in a statement. “Additionally, there was no factual or legal basis to dismiss Wilson Martell-Lebron’s criminal case for prosecutorial misconduct.”

While rejecting the contempt charges against ICE Agent Sullivan, Hayden did express concerns about the timing of ICE’s enforcement action. He has requested investigations by both the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security into the federal agency’s conduct. The judicial misconduct hearing in June will likely address not only Judge Summerville’s contempt finding but also his decision-making process throughout the case and whether his actions violated judicial ethics rules.