Hold judges accountable

Once again the criminal justice system in Massachusetts gave the benefit of the doubt to a really bad guy and the price was paid by a really good guy.

This time it was Mickey Rivera, 22, of Fall River, whose bail in an armed robbery case last September was set at $35,000, but a judge reduced it to $1,000.

According to the Herald’s Brooks Sutherland, Rivera, 22, charged with armed assault and multiple armed robbery complaints, posted the $1,000 bail and was freed after Judge Thomas McGuire allowed a motion for the dramatic reduction over the objections of prosecutors — reversing a prior judge’s decision to maintain high bail, the Bristol County District Attorney’s office said Monday.

Saturday, while fleeing from police, Rivera crashed head-on into a car driven by a Marine combat veteran. Both men as well as Rivera’s passenger died.

That Marine combat veteran was Kevin Quinn, 32, of Mashpee. He served two deployments in Afghanistan and had just left his wife and newborn daughter at the hospital.

Quinn’s best friend, fellow Marine veteran Rob Dinan, told the Herald, “He just couldn’t wait to be a dad. It’s all we talked about as the due date got closer. He told me he was so excited about ‘having someone that’s going to look up to me.’ ” Shame.

Anyone who had a hand in putting Mickey Rivera back on the street should step down from their position immediately. Do not insult the people of the commonwealth with diatribes about process or logjams or inefficiencies.

A family was robbed of their father and husband and the country has lost a brave veteran. The days-old baby is named “Logan Audrey Quinn.”

Who in the justice system could face the little girl and explain to her why it was so important that Mickey Rivera be allowed to walk free?

We need to start taking the process of selecting judges seriously. Governor’s councilors must be held to account. Judges need to be removed through the state Legislature and governor. If the lapse occurred within the district attorney’s office, people should be fired.

This is disgraceful.