California judge fights recall over Stanford swimmer’s sex assault sentencing

May 9, 2018

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The California judge who was lambasted for issuing a light sentence to a former Stanford University swimmer for sexual assault defended himself Tuesday, comparing the ruling’s backlash to Brown v. Board of Education â€” the landmark Supreme Court case declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Judge Aaron Persky, making his first public comments in nearly two years, argued Tuesday that judges facing difficult decisions should never be swayed by public opinion to defend his process in the case of Brock Turner, who was convicted of three counts of felony sexual assault and served only three months behind bars.

“We promise as judges to rule based on the facts and the law and not on public opinion,” Persky said, speaking to reporters from a supporter’s Palo Alto home.

“When public opinion influences a juror’s opinion, or a judge’s opinion, it corrupts the rule of law,” he said.