Her killer had multiple prior arrests. A judge let him walk. Now she's gone.
That's the story of Iryna Zarutska.
She was a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee building a new life in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was allegedly murdered by Decarlos Brown Jr., a man with a long rap sheet who'd been released on bond anyway.
Her family will never get those years back. And the judge who let him out? No consequences.
Fox News contributor Kayleigh McEnany had enough.
On a recent panel, she laid it out plainly: “We have a PROBLEM with JUDGES!” She's right.
And more people are starting to say it out loud.
🚨 NOW: Support is surging to pass FEDERAL legislation that holds the JUDGES liable when they release violent criminals, only to go commit more crime
This is long overdue! 🔥
KAYLEIGH MCENANY: “We have a PROBLEM with JUDGES!”
“Impeachment, civil actions, time for the… pic.twitter.com/bGqCf7GunA
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 12, 2026
The Same Story, Different Cities
Iryna's case isn't a fluke. McEnany also pointed to a shooting in Cambridge, Massachusetts, carried out by what she called a “career criminal” who had no business being on the streets.
These aren't isolated mistakes. They're a pattern.
Repeat violent offenders get released. They commit more crimes. Innocent people get hurt or killed. And the judges who made those calls face zero accountability.
That's not justice. That's a system that's broken.
A Bill That Would Change the Rules
Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana introduced the JAIL Act — the Judicial Accountability for Irresponsible Leniency Act. Senator Marsha Blackburn is a co-sponsor. A companion bill already exists in the House.
Here's what it does. If a judge releases a repeat violent offender on bail and that person goes on to hurt someone, the victim — or their family — can sue the judge and the government entity involved. Judicial immunity wouldn't protect them.
Think about it this way.
If a bartender keeps serving drinks to someone who's clearly drunk and that person kills someone driving home, the bartender can be sued. That's called a dram shop law. We hold bartenders accountable for bad judgment calls that get people killed.
Why should judges get a pass?
Critics say the bill could “politicize the judiciary” or “chill judicial discretion.”
But here's the thing — when that discretion keeps getting innocent people killed, maybe a little accountability isn't such a bad idea.
What Nevada Needs to Do
I'm running for Nevada State Assembly because I believe Nevadans deserve a Legislature that actually fights for their safety.
The JAIL Act is a federal proposal, and it's a good one. But we can't just wait on Washington. We need reforms here at home, too.
That's why, if elected, I'll push for changes in the Nevada Legislature to address this directly.
Nevada's 2020 bail reforms shifted the focus toward keeping defendants out of jail rather than keeping communities safe. That balance is off.
I'll work to require judges to give serious weight to criminal history and public safety when making release decisions for violent or repeat offenders.
I want presumptions against release for career criminals — not just guidelines that can be quietly ignored.
I also want more transparency.
Nevadans should be able to see data on which courts are releasing repeat offenders and what happens after.
If a pattern of dangerous decisions emerges, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline needs to take action.
And if judges won't take public safety seriously, voters should know about it come election time.
Nevada has a Republican governor in Joe Lombardo who's pushed tough-on-crime reforms. We need legislators who'll back him up instead of blocking every common-sense bill that comes through.
Iryna Zarutska deserved better. So do Nevada's families.
We can fix this. But it's going to take lawmakers who actually want to.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
