Boston Bar President Tony Doniger Speaks Out
Against Attacks on Judge Kathe Tuttman

BOSTON –Amid scurrilous attacks against Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Kathe Tuttman by two presidential candidates and members of the media, Boston Bar Association President Tony Doniger issued the following statement:

"A terrible tragedy has occurred and our hearts go out to the families who have suffered the loss of a son and daughter in Tacoma, Washington as a result of the actions of a defendant released from incarceration by Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Kathe Tuttman. It is repugnant, however, that presidential candidates would compound this tragedy by using it for political gain and turning it into another launching pad for attacks on the judiciary. Judge Tuttman, a former prosecutor for 18 years, did exactly what the law required her to do under the circumstances and on the basis of the information available to her; that this information may have been deficient is not the fault of the judge, but rather of certain criminal justice agencies. Instead of engaging in an informed debate on serious public policy issues facing our criminal justice system, these presidential candidates have tried to make Judge Tuttman the scape goat for systemic shortcomings. If we succumb to such judge-baiting, we will have lost a valuable opportunity to educate the public about the challenges facing judges every day while they work diligently to deliver fair and impartial justice based on the rule of law rather than emotion.  Judge Tuttman, and our independent judiciary, deserves our full and whole-hearted support."