Activists on the bench are an ever-present problem. And they wreak all kinds of havoc.
Now a Biden-appointed judge threw out the rule of law with a baffling decision.
Biden-Appointed Judge Releases Teens in Violent DC Carjacking Case, Stoking Tensions with Trump’s Crime Crackdown
In a decision that has fueled controversy, DC Superior Court Judge Kendra D. Biggs, appointed by President Joe Biden, ordered the release of two 15-year-old Maryland teens charged with the attempted carjacking and assault of former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer Edward Coristine on August 3. The ruling, which moved the teens from the secure Youth Services Center (YSC) to less restrictive settings—a youth shelter for the girl and home confinement with the boy’s mother—has drawn sharp criticism from those who see it as undermining President Donald Trump’s aggressive efforts to restore safety in Washington, DC.
The teens, charged with unarmed carjacking and assault, face a 24-hour curfew, electronic monitoring, mandatory school attendance, and drug testing, with Judge Biggs warning of an emergency hearing for any violations, according to The Washington Post. Prosecutors and US Attorney Jeanine Pirro opposed the release, arguing for continued detention given DC’s ongoing juvenile crime wave, with 56% of carjackings since 2023 committed by juveniles, some as young as 12.
Incident Details and Federal Response
The August 3 incident in Logan Circle saw Coristine, a 19-year-old software engineer and protégé of Elon Musk, brutally beaten by a group of approximately 10 juveniles while protecting his significant other during an attempted carjacking, leaving him bloodied and fearing a concussion, per Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) reports.
The attack prompted Trump to federalize DC’s police force, deploy National Guard troops, and place federal law enforcement on the streets, citing a record-high m*rder rate since 2019 and high-profile incidents like the summer shooting of a congressional intern near a Metro stop. Since the takeover, DC has seen a significant drop in crime, including a 26% reduction in violent crime, a 38% decrease in carjackings in 2025 compared to 2024, and the city’s first homicide-free week since March, according to MPD data. Trump celebrated these gains during a Thursday press conference in Anacostia, declaring, “Everybody’s safe now,” and thanking law enforcement for transforming DC into “a different city.”
Judicial Decision and Controversy
Judge Biggs’ decision to release the teens, who lack prior juvenile justice records, has reignited debates over DC’s juvenile justice system, which critics like Pirro argue is too lenient under Biden-appointed judges. Biggs noted the girl’s “major truancy issues” and past absence from home but emphasized their clean records, with the boy’s lawyer highlighting his “perfect” behavior at YSC.
The girl’s attorney argued the shelter placement offers “an opportunity to demonstrate her ability to comply,” per The Washington Post.
However, Pirro slammed the ruling, stating, “A family court rehabilitation program of yoga and ice cream socials for hardened repeat offenders just doesn’t cut it,” reflecting frustration with perceived soft-on-crime policies from the Biden era. Supporters of the decision, including some juvenile justice advocates, argue that rehabilitation over detention is more effective for first-time offenders, citing studies like those from the Council on Criminal Justice showing that punitive measures often trap youth in a cycle of crime.
Context of DC Crime
The ruling comes against the backdrop of DC’s crime challenges. The city reported 957 carjackings in 2023, a 650% increase from 2017, with juveniles driving much of the surge during the pandemic, often acting in groups and even streaming crimes on social media, per MPD Chief Pamela Smith.
Previous incidents have sparked similar criticism of judicial leniency, such as in 2023 when Mayor Muriel Bowser criticized Judge Andrea Hertzfeld for releasing a teen carjacking suspect who later died in a crash, though reports clarified the teen had no prior carjacking arrests.
Trump’s push for harsher penalties, including prosecuting minors as adults under Title 16, contrasts with DC’s Youth Rehabilitation Act, which allows judges to avoid mandatory minimums for offenders under 25, a policy critics argue enables repeat offenses. The Coristine case has intensified calls from figures like Pirro to repeal such laws, while advocates warn that over-incarceration risks long-term harm to youth and communities.
Public and Political Reaction
The decision has also drawn attention on social media, with posts on X decrying Biggs’ ruling as a direct challenge to Trump’s crime-fighting agenda, some labeling it “anti-white racism” or accusing the judge of aiding criminals. These sentiments reflect polarized views, though such claims lack substantiation and oversimplify the complex balance between rehabilitation and accountability.
The ongoing federal presence and search for a third suspect in the Coristine attack signal that Trump’s crackdown will continue, even as legal and ethical debates persist.
