Judge Frees Accused Antisemitic Assailant Who Threatened To Kill Brooklyn Family

In a disturbing incident in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, an Orthodox Jewish family was targeted in a violent, hate-fueled attack while celebrating Shabbat. Isharae Summers, 35, allegedly stalked a 26-year-old father, his wife, and their four young children—ranging in age from six months to six years—near the corner of Nostrand and Willoughby avenues. According to court records, Summers unleashed a torrent of antisemitic threats, screaming, “I’m gonna kill you Jews” and “Your kids are dead tonight,” before sucker punching the father in the chest and head.

Despite the severity of the unprovoked attack and the clear presence of hate speech threats, the legal system’s response has sparked outrage. Summers was charged with assault and multiple counts of aggravated harassment as a hate crime. At her arraignment, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office requested $50,000 cash bail to ensure the safety of the community and the victims. However, Judge Margaret Martin rejected this request, allowing Summers to walk free on supervised release.

Judge Martin’s decision to release a defendant accused of a violent hate crime could be seen as a direct reflection of her professional background. Before her 2017 appointment to the bench, Martin spent over 21 years with the Legal Aid Society, including a tenure as a Senior Staff Attorney in the Capital Division. Critics, such as former Lt. Governor Betsy McCaughey and former Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, argue that the Legal Aid Society functions less as a defense organization and more as a lobbying group dedicated to “handcuffing the police” and prioritizing the interests of criminals over victims.

The Legal Aid Society has been instrumental in pushing for the elimination of cash bail and the implementation of discovery reforms that often result in cases being dismissed on technicalities. Ray Kelly noted that such a background creates systemic friction for law enforcement, as officers risk their lives to make arrests only to see suspects released by judges conditioned by a “pro-crime” legal philosophy.

In this case, the transition from public defender to judge appears to have significantly influenced the outcome, as Martin’s refusal to set bail allowed a woman accused of terrorizing a Jewish family and their infants to return to the streets, further demoralizing local police and endangering the community.