[sendtoscott]

Conservatives blame liberal judges for putting criminals back on the street -- not for the creation of criminals in the first place. Methinks you haven't really thought through your premise ...

No, in both cases (the WOD and soft judges), the govt's actions result in more crime, even if we all blame individual criminals for individual crimes.

Does a soft on crime judge bear any responsibility for crimes committed by thugs he turns loose?

[GenXFreedomFighter]

He certainly does bear some responsibility because he's supposed to know that a hardened thug is going to commit more crime. That's what judges are for... to provide public safety by keeping thugs locked up. If he won't do that, he has no business being on the bench. That's the responsibility that government bears.