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jgghn t1_j23z37m wrote

Good point. Perhaps they should as well?

I don't think the problem with judges is quite as top level. We're all very familiar with how abusive police departments are to the people under their watch. A bad judge can have just as, if not more, of a profound impact on a person's life, but there's a reason why we see "ACAB" and not "AJAB".

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2old4badbeer t1_j242uac wrote

I think it’s anti-police rhetoric that is the root of this “work where you live” thing. Let’s just call it what it is. A cop can make a bad arrest, the prosecutor can pursue and win the case, but a judge decides how long you go to jail and somehow the cops the only bad guy? We don’t hear “AJAB” because judges in Massachusetts are appointed by the governor. How do they get appointed? Well, look at their political donations. It’s an easy line to draw. Massachusetts governors, particularly in recent history, prefer judges who defer criminals from jail for better or worse. Judges are often a last hope for a defendant and they usually deliver. But that’s beside the point. I concede there are probably benefits to cops living where they work, but it’s not always practical and should be a choice. But to expect one group of city employees to and not others is unfair, unless there’s hard evidence that proves a benefit to everyone.

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