If Judge Tuttman “followed the law” in reducing $100K bail to personal recognizance why would the judge in Dedham put a $20 K bail on the 76 yr old woman who ran over an old man on Great Plains Ave the other day? Because it was a “hit and run”? Now seriously, who is a greater risk to flee, a 76 yr old woman with no record or a convicted murderer awaiting trial for assaulting two prison guards? In my experience, anyone charged with a serious crime gets bail imposed. While I agree that we should not rush to judgment, Tuttman should be up for hearing before the Governor’s Council. Maybe she just screwed up. Or maybe she’s totally incompetent. At least two innocent young people are dead as a result. Is Tuttman’s error any greater than that of the old lady in Needham, or the woman who hit the wrong pedal and killed the MD in the cancer clinic? We all make mistakes, even judges. Judges like Murphy (extorting the Herald) and Tuttman should be compelled to accept responsibility like the rest of us.

Don’t the citizens deserve better?

There has always been patronage, corruption and nepotism. Those sins are likely endemic to the human condition. But if we continue to permit the high and mighty chosen few to ignore common sense and the people's cries for justice, then the answer to that question is "No".

Well its official, Massachusetts has let yet another murderer loose to wreak havoc on the innocent citizens of another state. From 1988’s Willie Horton to 2007’s Danny Tavares, Jr., the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has perfected a system to reduce in state crime. We let the criminals out so that they can flee to other states. There’s little doubt that the Department of Corrections should have sought criminal complaints for assault against two prison guards by a man convicted of killing his own mother with a butcher knife. Surely the Worcester District Attorney’s office should have requested a Dangerousness Hearing on Tavares’ bail review hearing. Then again isn’t the Worcester County DA the son of a former Congressman who was kiting checks in the Bank of Congress. And honestly, why is the system so convoluted? Shouldn’t “dangerousness” be an element of deciding if an accused can be freed on bail? Is likelihood of failure to appear the only valid criteria for leaving a killer lose on the streets? I’m pretty certain that numerous other defendants have been held in custody because of a “belief” that they would flee. Didn’t OJ have to post a bail? Was it because he failed to appear on some speeding violation? I think not.
There is a lot of blame pie to be shared here, but to these eyes the judge is an imbecile. I’ve read the remarks of Ed Ryan, Esq. and Hiller Zobel (who nullified a jail sentence for the nanny who shook a baby to death) and while their understanding of the law is doubtlessly correct, it totally lacks common sense. Why is Romney to blame for this? Well he appointed Tuttman who clearly is yet another loony liberal Massachusetts jurist, but the system here is broken. Not only are judges not held responsible for their errors, they are forbidden to comment. Hmmm. Judge Murphy sends what can only be described as an extortion note to the publisher of the Boston Herald and he gets a reprimand announced on the day before Thanksgiving. Golly, what would Tuttman’s punishment be for explaining her decision instead of hiding behind the robes. One would have to presume it would be somewhat less right? Hell Tavares only got 15 years for stabbing his mother to death!
This state has gone to hell in a hand basket. The former Senate President is the brother of our most infamous criminal. Haven’t the last three Speakers of the House been indicted? How long before Sal DiMasi slips up? Our Supreme Judicial Court pulls a “right” to gay marriage out of its judicial posterior while the Legislature stands idly by. But the same Legislature is now considering making spanking your own child a felony. Even if there was an avenue whereby judges could be held accountable (what an awful thought for liberals) the gutless fools who run the show wouldn’t do it anyway. No citizens’ petitions will get any sway on Beacon Hill. They have shown us all that much already. An innocent couple is murdered in cold blood for an alleged $50 but the parties responsible are beyond reproach. Even if judges were to be elected here in the People’s Republic I doubt that there’d be much of a change. The electorate here is too lazy or stupid to take responsibility for its government. That’s why we are governed by a few “intellectuals” who “know what’s good for us”. Ban marshmallow fluff! Trans-fats are illegal! Make spanking a felony! But recall a judge, Oh my no! Barney Frank can spank “Hot Bottom” all he wants but you smack junior’s butt and you are a felon. The kid in Marshfield (his name escapes me – pun intended) received 5 months in jail for plotting a “Columbine” style massacre of his high school mates. But had he not been stopped and killed 20 kids what would be the hue and cry. You know the answer. MORE GUN CONTROL. They catch the little deviant and he gets 5 months. If they don’t catch him, law abiding citizens get more restrictions on their liberty.

Now the powers that be have moved the Massachusetts primary ahead to February 5th, Super Tuesday. Why? So that Massachusetts can be more relevant in the nation. I’m guessing that in Maryland (Horton) and Washington (Tavares) the law abiding citizens think that Massachusetts is plenty “relevant” enough thank you. Our primary should be the day after the Democratic Convention ends. We do enough damage as it is.