The reappointment of a so-called “cut-’em-loose judge” by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has some law enforcement officials fuming.
Despite her questionable record, de Blasio’s office announced Monday that controversial Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge Laura Johnson, will serve a full 10-year term on the bench.
Johnson has sparked outrage for freeing defendants accused of threatening to kill cops.
Just hours after NYPD Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were executed on Dec. 20, 2014, a reputed gang member allegedly posted a photo online showing a gunman blasting an NYPD cruiser. Judge Johnson came under fire for releasing him without bail, following his arrest.
One day after putting that gang member back on the streets, Johnson also freed another defendant, shortly after he allegedly punched a cop in Prospect Heights and threatened to “find and kill others.”
Despite intense opposition from law enforcement officials last year, the mayor gave Johnson a one-year interim reappointment.
According to de Blasio, Johnson represents the “best interests” of New Yorkers. The head of the NYPD’s sergeants union is furious over the recent move by the city’s leader. Ed Mullins told the NY Post that Johnson is “clearly not worthy of such an appointment.”
“Little did I know that when the mayor speaks of criminal-justice reform, he is speaking about eroding the criminal-justice system,” Mullins said.
De Blasio also reappointed Judges Miriam Cyrulnik and Nicholas Iacovetta. The Post revealed last week that Iacovetta was the second of three Bronx judges who all freed the same defendant without bail in separate cases during a nine-month stretch. That defendant was arrested for allegedly selling crack and heroin near a school in the west Bronx.
