Fine plans bill to hold judges accountable after NC rail stabbing
The article reports that Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) is preparing legislation aimed at holding judges accountable for releasing violent repeat offenders after the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train. The suspect, Decarlos Brown, who has a lengthy criminal record, was charged with first-degree murder. Fine criticized the more than a dozen judges who previously released brown, arguing they deserve to be held responsible. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has offered to co-sponsor the bill. The case has attracted national attention and become a focal point for Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who used the incident to highlight concerns about crime in Democratic-led cities. Fine’s proposed legislation raises questions about judicial independence and how judges should be held accountable for their decisions.
Randy Fine pushes legislation to hold judges accountable after murder of Iryna Zarutska
Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) is preparing legislation that would hold judges accountable for releasing violent repeat offenders, a move prompted by the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte light rail train.
The case has drawn national attention after a video surfaced showing the 23-year-old woman being attacked on board, unprompted. The suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown, was arrested after the stabbing and charged with first-degree murder. Court records show Brown has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for armed robbery, felony larceny, and breaking and entering.
Fine argued that the more than a dozen judges who previously released Brown should also be held accountable, saying they “deserve their day in court.” He said he would introduce legislation to tackle the issue.
“It’s easy to release criminals when you’re protected by an armed bailiff at all times. The rest of us aren’t so lucky,” Fine said in a post on X. His office did not provide any additional details on the legislation, but indicated it was still in the works.
I’m going to introduce legislation to hold judges accountable when violent repeat offenders they release commit new crimes.
It’s easy to release criminals when you’re protected by an armed bailiff at all times. The rest of us aren’t so lucky.
Those 12+ judges that released…
— Congressman Randy Fine (@RepFine) September 7, 2025
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) cited Fine’s post and offered to co-sponsor the bill, writing, “these incompetent judges must be held accountable” on X. The case has quickly become central to the Trump administration’s vow to target rising crime in big cities led by Democrats.
“This monster on the right is who the pro-crime Democrats want sitting next to you and your family on public transportation,” Fine wrote.
The stabbing attack happened on Aug. 22 but caught national attention after the Charlotte Area Transit System published the surveillance video over the weekend. Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was the victim of the attack as she sat on the train. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her murder has become a rallying point for Republicans, with President Donald Trump seizing on the case as part of his vow to crack down on crime in large, Democratic-led cities. On Monday, he offered condolences to Zarutska’s family and pledged to confront what he called “evil people” in society.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT FATAL STABBING OF UKRAINIAN REFUGEE ON CHARLOTTE’S LIGHT RAIL
“A lunatic just got up and started — it’s right on the tape, not really watchable, because it’s so horrible — but just viciously stabs her. She’s just sitting there,” Trump said. “So they’re evil people. We have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that, we don’t have a country.”
Fine’s proposal, still in development, is expected to raise debate over judicial independence and whether lawmakers can or should directly penalize judges for their rulings.
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