When the Law Fails Victims, a District Attorney Should Fight to Change It

A recent article by Scott Van Voorhis examines two self-defense cases handled by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office and raises troubling questions about consistency, fairness, and whether politics influenced prosecutorial decisions.

As Van Voorhis writes:

"It's hard to parse the legal rationale behind Ryan's decisions in the two self-defense cases, but it's not hard to see the politics."

For David Solet, this issue is about more than two individual cases.

During his 24 years as a prosecutor in the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, David repeatedly raised concerns about laws and policies that he believed failed victims. For years, the response from the current administration was that its hands were tied. David believed a District Attorney should never accept that answer.

That disagreement ultimately led to his resignation from the office and prompted him to challenge Marion Ryan in this election.

Van Voorhis notes that David brings a unique perspective to the race:

"The 2025 Middlesex County Prosecutor of the Year, Solet, has amassed an impressive list of endorsements from two dozen local police unions and law enforcement organizations..."

The article contrasts two self-defense cases that received dramatically different treatment. In one, a 21-year-old licensed firearms instructor with no criminal record defended himself during an ambush in Cambridge.

"Ryan insisted that the prosecutor on the case go before the court and, at a dangerousness hearing, argue that the young man, who had no criminal record and had been extremely cooperative, was such a threat to the community that he should be held without bail, according to sources."

According to the article, the decision sparked significant concern inside the office.

"That prompted a behind-the-scenes protest from one of her top prosecutors, who refused to stay on the case, sources say."

For David, these cases illustrate a larger problem. For too long, victims have been told that weak laws can't be changed and that the District Attorney is powerless to act. David rejects that philosophy.

A District Attorney should put victims first, not politics. The office should challenge unjust laws, fight for legislative reform, and never settle for a system that leaves victims behind simply because changing it is difficult.

As Van Voorhis writes:

"A DA's decision on whether to charge someone with a crime should be based on the law, not politics."

And as David Solet makes clear:

"Marian Ryan applied two different standards to these two different men. And that is deeply troubling."

This election is about more than prosecuting cases. It's about electing a District Attorney who will fight for victims—in the courtroom and on Beacon Hill—whenever justice demands it.