A suburban Detroit judge shrugged off calls to resign following backlash over her social media post about the killing of Charlie Kirk.
On Wednesday evening, Jaimie Powell Horowitz, an Oak Park district court judge, posted a quote from Kirk just hours after he was slain, in which he said in 2023, "I think it’s worth it to have the cost of unfortunately some gun deaths every year..so we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God given rights. It’s a prudent deal, a rational deal."
"Talk about dying for your beliefs," Powell Horowitz wrote in a Facebook post, according to The Detroit News.
Her post quickly drew criticism, including from Vance Patrick, chair of the county's Republican Party.
"Comments like the ones from Judge Horowitz are disgusting," Patrick said. "Any attempt to justify or lessen the severity of the assassination of Charlie Kirk is a clear indicator of the lack of character and moral fiber of that person. Judge Horowitz should resign immediately to help protect the integrity of our court system."
But Powell Horowitz said her post was factual — and rebuffed Patrick's call.
"The fact that Mr. Kirk — in his own words — had said these kinds of deaths are worth it to protect our Second Amendment rights, as if it's just something we’re willing to accept for gun rights, I think that’s a quote people should really think about," Powell Horowitz told the Detroit News. "I hope people will think about his quote, and whether or not gun deaths are worth it for Second Amendment rights. I certainly don't think his death or others' death is worth it."
The report comes as right-wing activists target people over what they see as insensitive or disrespectful social media comments regarding Kirk's slaying.