Stanford judge reignites debate after leaving other sex case
SAN FRANCISCO — The Northern California judge who sentenced a former Stanford University swimmer to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman reignited debate Tuesday about his ability to serve on the bench after removing himself from a separate sex-crimes case.
Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky formally recused himself Monday from deciding whether to reduce a San Jose plumber’s felony child pornography charges to misdemeanours. A law professor called the move unusual and said it makes it look like Persky is susceptible to “political pressure.”
It’s the second sex-crimes case that Persky has departed since his June sentencing of 20-year-old Brock Turner exploded in national media. It comes amid an effort to recall Persky and a formal misconduct complaint that a women’s advocacy group filed with the state agency that disciplines judges.
Another judge will rule on Robert Chain’s child porn case in October.