jurors upset over Stanford rape sentence refuse to serve

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NyDaily

Jurors upset over a California judge’s light sentencing for convicted Stanford University rapist Brock Turner have started refusing to serve under the judge, according to a report.

At least 10 prospective Santa Clara County jurors declined to serve this week in Judge Aaron Persky’s court in an unrelated case because they object to the judge’s six-month jail sentence for the former All-American swimmer, the San Jose Mercury News reported Thursday.

One potential juror stood up in court during jury selection for the misdemeanor stolen property case and told Persky, “I can't believe what you did,” according to multiple sources cited by the newspaper.

“I can't be here, I'm so upset," another person said as lawyers tried to pick jurors for the case. Persky excused everyone who said they objected to his handling of the case and told them, “I understand.”

An online national petition calling for Persky’s removal from the bench in light of the sentencing last week for Turner’s three sexual assault felonies had attracted nearly 1 million supporters by Thursday afternoon. Anti-sexism organization Ultra-Violet announced that activists will deliver 1 million signatures Friday to the California Commission on Judicial Performance from people who want Persky off the bunch.

And Stanford law professor Michele Dauber, who said she is a family friend of the victim in the January 2015 assault, has started a local campaign to recall Persky.

“Judge Persky's decision is unacceptable,” according to the recall campaign’s website. “His ruling also sends the message that campus rape is not ‘real’ rape. Rape is rape whether it happens on campus or off and whether the perpetrator is an elite athlete or not. This dangerous ruling makes all women at Stanford and at colleges across California less safe.”

Persky ran unopposed earlier this week in the California primaries. His short county jail sentence for Turner, which requires him to register as a sex offender for life, ran counter to prosecutors’ recommended six-year state prison term but fell in line with a probation committee’s report.

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The judge cited the 20-year-old Turner’s lack of criminal history and his youth in finding that a longer sentence would pose a “severe impact” on Turner. Representatives for the court have said he cannot discuss Turner’s case publicly because his lawyers appealed his March conviction.

A jury found Turner guilty of assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated or unconscious person, penetration of an intoxicated person and penetration of an unconscious person. He could walk free in as little as three months with good behavior.