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Suffolk County DA Rollins Confirmed as U.S. Attorney for MA

By Tom Marino | December 9, 2021
Last Updated: December 9, 2021

The United States Senate confirmed the appointment of Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts on Wednesday, December 8.

Rollins becomes the first Black woman as U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts. When elected District Attorney in 2019, she became the first woman ever elected to the positions in Suffolk County and the first woman of color ever elected a district attorney in Massachusetts.

President Joe Biden nominated Rollins for U.S. Attorney in July, but unanimous Republican opposition stalled the nomination. The full U.S. Senate, in a roll call vote, split 50 to 50 along party lines on the nomination on Wednesday. Vice President Kamala Harris, in the role of president of the Senate, cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm Rollins.

The last time the full Senate voted in a roll call vote for a U.S. prosecutor was 1975.

In 2019, controversy surrounded Rollins’ candidacy and eventual election in Suffolk County, including stern opposition from some police unions and law enforcement advocates. Rollins campaigned as a reformer who supports non-prosecution of some misdemeanor crimes.

U.S. Senate Republican Tom Cotton of Arkansas led opposition to her nomination.

Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research (pdf, pg. 21) analyzed cases in Suffolk Country from 2004 to 2018 and concluded that individuals in Suffolk County not prosecuted for non-violent misdemeanors were 58% less likely to be subject to another charge over the next two years and 24% less likely at any time in the future.

In preliminary statistics released by the Boston Police Department for 2021 through December 5, “Part One Crime” has decreased 14 percent in the city in 2021, from 15,948 reported to 13,697. The five year average for total Part One Crime reported is 17,020.

Many cities across the United States have experienced an increase in violent crime in 2021, including twelve cities reportedly setting all-time homicide records.

Cotton and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas accused Rollins of support for abolishing the police and protecting criminals.

Suffolk Country Sheriff Steven Tompkins wrote a letter of endorsement(pdf) to the U.S. Senate in support of Rollins.

State Police Colonel Christopher Mason, Acting Boston Police Commissioner Gregory Long, Retired Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, Police Chiefs Brian Kyes (Chelsea), David Callahan (Revere), James Guido (Revere, retired), Terence Delehanty (Winthrop), and Kenneth Green (MBTA Transit Police) wrote a joint letter  (pdf) in support of confirmation of Rollins.

The letter said, in part:

“We do not always get along. In fact, we have disagreed strongly on issues. What we can say is that she respects us and the work we do to keep our communities safe. She can admit when she is wrong. She can also be incredibly persuasive when she is right. The constant throughout every encounter we have is a mutual respect and a willingness to learn from each other.

This was best displayed last year, after the murder of George Floyd. As we all watched millions take to the streets and protest, some of which turned into unrest and violence, DA Rollins called us together to engage in a series of open, honest, and uncut dialogues about race, policing, and the Black community. These conversations were tense at times, but necessary. We all listened to and learned from each other. As a result of those first few discussions, we issued a joint statement together that can be found here. We have now instituted bi-monthly meetings with each other. DA Rollins has also engaged the Union leadership for each of the bargaining units representing the members of our various police departments. She meets with the Union leadership quarterly. Meetings of this type have never happened before.”

 

Image Courtesy of Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office

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