Judge in Stanford sex assault case running for reelection unopposed

ByMatt Keller KGO logo

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Judge in Stanford sexual assault case running unopposed despite recall effort

The judge in the Stanford sexual assault case's term is coming to an end but no one is running against him in this election.

STANFORD, Calif. (KGO) -- A recall effort is growing for a Santa Clara County judge who triggered nationwide outrage over the sentence he handed down to a former Stanford swimmer convicted of sexual assault.

The judge's term is coming to an end but no one is running against him in this election.

The trial is over -- Brock Turner was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman on the Stanford campus in January 2015 and was sentenced last week to six months in county jail.

But the outrage over what many are calling a lenient punishment is growing.

"There is no logical explanation for what he did. This judge Aaron Persky, I believe, should be removed," Nancy Grace said.

Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky could have sentenced Turner to up to 14 years in prison.

The victim's impact statement read in court was released to the public and was shared and viewed millions of times on social media.

"That letter is so important and so powerful in reframing this discussion," Deputy DA Alaleh Kianerci said.

Her words and the sentencing is fueling a recall effort for Persky.

A petition on Change.org to remove him from the bench has almost 330,000 signatures as of 10 a.m. Tuesday.

A website was launched, RecallAaronPersky.com, along with Facebook and Twitter pages, asking for people's support and donations.

Persky's term on the bench is up but you won't see his name on the primary election ballot. That's because he's running unopposed.

But there is a way, albeit unlikely, he could still lose the election in November - a write-in candidate.

That person would need to have a petition with 600 signatures turned in by August 17 and nomination paperwork turned in by September 12.

"The judge would appear and a blank space under the name would appear where someone could write in a qualified write-in candidate," Santa Clara Co. Registrar of Voters' Philip Chantri said.

Persky does have support from the district attorney, Jeff Rosen. Although he was disappointed with the sentencing, he doesn't think Persky should be removed from his judgeship.

Click here for full coverage on the Brock Turner case.