Questions are now being raised not only about the suspect in the Charlotte, North Carolina, train stabbing death of 23-year-old Ukrainian national Iryna Zarutska, but also about the judge who allowed him to return to the community months earlier.
In addition to the suspect, the Charlotte, North Carolina, train stabbing that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Ukrainian national Iryna Zarutska has prompted inquiries regarding the judge who permitted him to reenter the streets months prior.
According to a letter sent by ten U.S. representatives to North Carolina Chief Judge Roy H. Wiggins, Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes released Decarlos Brown Jr. in January on the condition that he provide a “written promise” to return to court for a hearing on his Class 1 misdemeanor charge, which “arose after Brown became combative with police officers.”
According to the Washington Examiner, Brown, a diagnosed schizophrenic, informed officers that “man-made” materials were implanted within him and were directing his behavior. Officers allegedly informed Brown that he was experiencing a medical emergency and departed, prompting him to dial 911 once more. He was charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor for the misuse of the emergency line.
That decision disregarded Brown’s extensive criminal record, which included 14 arrests and convictions for felony larceny, thievery, breaking and entering, and armed robbery.
According to Newsweek, Brown’s mother also expressed her dissatisfaction with the court system for releasing her son, whom she claimed she had expelled from her residence due to his aggression.
The U.S. representatives are asking that Stokes be removed from office “for willful and persistent failure to perform the duties of the office or conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute.”
“Despite the history of violent and unstable behavior, Magistrate Stokes released Brown without requiring bond or imposing any meaningful conditions to safeguard the public,” the letter alleges. “This reckless decision had devastating consequences.”
Part of the outrage stems from Stokes’ background. Stokes went to what Politico Magazine described as the “worst law school in America,” Cooley Law School.
The Federalist noted:
A cursory search does not show that Stokes passed the North Carolina bar, though one explanation could be that she was admitted to the bar through the state’s Admission on Motion program, which permits attorneys to be barred without passing the bar exam. The Board of Law Examiners of the State of North Carolina did not return a request for comment regarding whether Stokes took and/or passed the exam.
Speaking of bars, however, the bar to be a magistrate judge in general is rather low. Individuals do not need to be attorneys or attend law school. Eligibility requirements include having “eight years’ experience” as a superior court clerk or law enforcement officer, a four year-degree or a two year associate degree and four years of work experience in a related field.
Stokes “experience” appears to stem from her time in social services. Stokes is the “Co-Owner and Director at Pinnacle Recovery Services,” according to The Org. She is also the co-owner of Wing Heaven Sports Haven, which is described by The Org as a “sober sports bar.” She has past experience as a “Client Services Specialist” at the Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham Counties as well as a past coordinator of behavior health at Child and Family Charities, according to The Org.
In other words, the judge who released a violent and unstable offender back into the public possessed credentials that align with the low standards expected from such a system.
All 10 Republican members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation are demanding the removal of a state magistrate judge who released a violent repeat offender now accused of stabbing a young Ukrainian refugee to death on a Charlotte light rail train.