A US judge who faced criticism over his sentencing of a Stanford University student convicted of sexual assault has been removed from a similar case.
A prosecutor filed a challenge against Aaron Persky, a Superior Court Judge in Santa Clara, California, alleging bias.
The case from which he was removed involved a male nurse accused of sexually assaulting a sedated patient.
Mr. Persky came under fire last week when he gave the student a sentence that many regarded as too lenient.
In the latest case, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen filed the challenge arguing that the judge was biased.
The request came a day after Judge Persky dismissed a misdemeanour stolen mail case in mid-trial.
"We are disappointed and puzzled at Judge Persky's unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate," Mr. Rosen said in a statement.
"After this and the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient."
Mr. Persky first stirred controversy after handing down a six-month jail sentence to former Stanford student Brock Turner, who was seen by two other students sexually assaulting his unconscious victim behind a rubbish bin.
The victim's statement read in court went viral, prompting a public outcry over the sentencing.
Three petitions have circulated calling for the judge's dismissal, including one that included more than a million signatures.
A prosecutor filed a challenge against Aaron Persky, a Superior Court Judge in Santa Clara, California, alleging bias.
The case from which he was removed involved a male nurse accused of sexually assaulting a sedated patient.
Mr. Persky came under fire last week when he gave the student a sentence that many regarded as too lenient.
In the latest case, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen filed the challenge arguing that the judge was biased.
The request came a day after Judge Persky dismissed a misdemeanour stolen mail case in mid-trial.
"We are disappointed and puzzled at Judge Persky's unusual decision to unilaterally dismiss a case before the jury could deliberate," Mr. Rosen said in a statement.
"After this and the recent turn of events, we lack confidence that Judge Persky can fairly participate in this upcoming hearing in which a male nurse sexually assaulted an anesthetized female patient."
Mr. Persky first stirred controversy after handing down a six-month jail sentence to former Stanford student Brock Turner, who was seen by two other students sexually assaulting his unconscious victim behind a rubbish bin.
The victim's statement read in court went viral, prompting a public outcry over the sentencing.
Three petitions have circulated calling for the judge's dismissal, including one that included more than a million signatures.
No comments:
Post a Comment