A petition on Change.org, demanding the dismissal of North Carolina Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes, has garnered over 11,000 signatures in the aftermath of the tragic murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska.
The petition has gained momentum following a video released by Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC), which calls for accountability following the release of Decarlos Brown Jr., a habitual offender with 14 previous convictions, without bail. Brown is now the prime suspect in the brutal murder of Zarutska on Charlotte's light rail.
The petition was initiated two weeks ago by an individual identified as @MyLordBebo, following the shocking murder of Zarutska on August 22. The petition implores the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission to dismiss Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes and scrutinize her past rulings.
The petition's creator expressed their outrage to Breitbart News, stating, "It was devastating to see a harmless woman minding her own business and being slaughtered for nothing. After I found that a judge let Decarlos out on cashless bail it made me angry. We need to remove the judge to save the next Iryna and provide justice for the unfortunate soul Iryna Zarutska."
The petition raises a critical question: "Why was a mentally ill, repeat offender allowed to walk free in Charlotte?" The petition goes on to highlight that following his most recent arrest, prior to the alleged murder of Iryna, Decarlos was released without bail by Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes.
As reported by Breitbart, Judge Stokes released him "based solely on his written promise to appear for a future court date." Despite reviewing Decarlos's extensive criminal record and potentially his history of mental illness, Judge Stokes still allowed him to walk free. The petition calls for answers and accountability.
In a video released by Change.org on Tuesday, Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC) expressed his support for the campaign. He stated, "A judge who lets violent criminals back on the streets has no business holding a gavel. Just weeks ago, we witnessed one of the worst failures of justice Ive ever seen."
Harrigan referenced Brown's extensive criminal record and mental health issues before calling for action, "Thats why I joined every Republican from North Carolina in demanding her removal. I need you to add your voice, sign the petition, stand with us, and make it clear that North Carolinians will not tolerate judges who put criminals over innocent people."
The petition is part of a broader push by Republican officials. On Monday, Rep. Mark Harris (R-NC) announced that the state's GOP delegation had formally requested Stokes's removal, citing her decision to release Brown in January following an arrest for abusing the 911 system. Harris questioned Stokes's interpretation of pretrial release statutes, suggesting it "calls into question her fitness for service" and queried whether she is still making rulings "even though she has lost the publics confidence."
District Court Judge Roy H. Wiggins, in a letter dated September 10, stated his office was reviewing bond policy and would provide additional education for magistrates, noting the process would be handled with "the confidentiality required by law."
The campaign for Stokes's dismissal coincides with North Carolina lawmakers' progress on "Irynas Law," a piece of legislation aimed at abolishing cashless bail for certain crimes and restricting the discretion of judges and magistrates in pretrial release decisions. The law passed the state House on Tuesday in an 8131 vote after previously clearing the Senate and will now be sent to Gov. Josh Stein (D-NC).
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