Activists file petitions to recall judge in Stanford sexual assault trial
STANFORD, Calif. (KGO) -- More than 1.2 million signatures have been collected by multiple online petition campaigns to have superior court judge Aaron Persky removed from the bench after he gave former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner a six month sentence for sexual assault. Advocacy groups say the sentence is too lenient.
RELATED: Prosecution memo stresses Brock Turner had history of harassing women
An attorney has filed a notice of appeal on the judge's sentence on behalf of the family. The attorney said the family has not decided on whether or not to follow through on that.
Stanford law professor Michele Dauber organized the petition.
RELATED: Congress to read letter by Stanford sexual assault victim
"It says if you're raped on a college campus in the state of California, you're on your own and to potential perpetrators it says don't worry we have your back," said Dauber.
Organizers gathered at the State Building before turning over the petitions to the state commission on judicial performance. After a rally, the petition organizers and supporters went inside to the 14th floor offices of the commission to deliver the three boxes.
Reporters and photographers were not allowed in. Minutes later the petition organizers came out disappointed.
RELATED: Key witness in Stanford sexual assault case speaks out
"They refused to come out and take the boxes so we had to leave them on the ledge," said a petition organizer.
The organizers have filed a formal complaint against Judge Persky. There is no telling if commissioners will take the case for review. Their office declined a request from ABC7 News for an interview.
RELATED: Brock Turner's hometown in Ohio reacts to sentence
Protesters from UltraViolet will take aim at Judge Persky during Stanford's commencement ceremony Sunday. UltraViolet has commissioned three billboards that will be carried around by bicyclists, with the message you see here: "protect survivors, not rapists." A plane will carry a banner with a similar message above the ceremony.
On Wednesday, more than 30 members of Congress will read the victim's impact statement
Click here for full coverage on the Brock Turner case.
