Stanford sexual assault: public defenders support judge in open letter | US news | The Guardian

I haven't read the famous victim statement or the judge's sentencing statement,  But my instinct - as a former trial lawyer for the Public Defender in Newark - and opponent of mass incarceration is to side with the PD's here. - gwc
Stanford sexual assault: public defenders support judge in open letter | US news | The Guardian
by Nicky Wolf

A group of public defenders have come out in support of Aaron Persky, the judge facing a recall effort over his light sentencing of a former Stanford University swimmer who was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman.

The public defenders, led by Sajid Khan, stepped up to support Persky with an open letter and petition calling for judicial discretion that has, as of Friday afternoon, received nearly 300 signatures, most of which are from public defenders and defense attorneys.

Stanford sexual assault: records show judge's logic behind light sentence

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The letter reads: “If judges had to fear direct, personal repercussions as a result of their decisions in individual cases, the rule of law would suffer.”

“Judge Persky applied the applicable laws, reviewed the right circumstances and factors that he was required to review, did not abuse his legal authority and utilized the discretion afforded to him to render a reasonable, fair sentence within the confines of the law and in line with the probation recommendation.”