In the wake of the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, who was killed on public transportation in Charlotte by an alleged murderer who had been released from police custody fourteen times, the Republican House delegation from North Carolina has taken action demanding that the judge responsible for the alleged murderer’s release.
For reference, the judge involved is Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes. She did not pass the bar, and allowed the accused murderer, Decarlos Brown, to be released yet again after being arrested for his 14th time in January 2025. She released him on nothing more than a written promise to appear back in court at a later date.
So, the North Carolina GOP has banded together to demand the magistrate judge be fired before she can wreak yet more damage and havoc. Such is what Congressman Tim Moore (R-NC) announced in a post on X, saying, “Today, I led a letter calling for the removal of Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes, who released a 14-time offender who went on to murder Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte. This tragedy was preventable. There must be accountability. North Carolinians deserve better.”
They began the letter, which was written to the Chief Judge in the district, by saying, “We are writing to urge that you initiate proceedings under North Carolina General Statute § 7A-173(a) for the removal of Magistrate Teresa Stokes from office. That statute provides for the removal of a magistrate 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.”
Continuing, they noted that the judge here had clearly shown she should be removed, writing, “Magistrate Stokes’s actions in the case of Decarlos Brown, Jr. clearly meet both of these grounds for removal. In January 2025, Magistrate Stokes authorized the release of Brown based solely on his ‘written promise’ to appear for a future court date.”
They then added, commenting on his criminal background, “This decision was made despite Brown’s extensive criminal history, which included at least 14 prior arrests for serious offenses such as possession of a firearm by a felon, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and physical assault of his sister. In 2014, he was sentenced to five years in prison for robbery with a dangerous firearm.”
And, describing the charge for which Brown was released, they said, “The January charge, a Class 1 misdemeanor, arose after Brown became combative with police officers. Yet despite this history of violent and unstable behavior, Magistrate Stokes released Brown without requiring bond or imposing any meaningful conditions to safeguard the public.”
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Connecting that horrible decision to the sickening murder he is alleged to have committed, they said, “This reckless decision had devastating consequences. On August 22, 2025, while his misdemeanor case was still pending, Brown boarded a Charlotte light rail train and fatally stabbed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska in the neck as she was returning home from work.”
Further, connecting her decision yet again to the code section under which she could be removed, they said, “Ms. Zarutska’s murder was not only a profound personal tragedy but also a direct result of a failure of judicial responsibility. By releasing a repeat violent offender on nothing more than his written promise to appear, Magistrate Stokes displayed a willful failure to perform the duties of her office and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, as set forth in N.C.G.S. § 7A-173(a). Her decision has undermined public confidence in the judicial system and exposed the community to wholly preventable harm.”
Concluding, they said, “For these reasons, we urge you to commence formal removal proceedings against Magistrate Teresa Stokes. We further request that the Court conduct a thorough review of her prior bond determinations to assess the full extent of misconduct. North Carolinians deserve to know that those entrusted with judicial authority exercise it with diligence, responsibility, and regard for the safety of the community.”
Featured image credit: police mugshot