Voters Are Deciding Whether To Recall Aaron Persky, Judge Who Sentenced Brock Turner
On Tuesday, voters in California's Santa Clara County are deciding the fate of Aaron Persky, the judge whose six-month sentence for the sexual assault conviction of Brock Turner prompted national outcry.
Women outraged by the lenient sentence have led a charge to recall Persky from his post, saying he is unfit to serve out the remaining four years of his term. Persky's defenders say that a recall would undermine judicial independence and might unintentionally lead to longer sentences for far less privileged felons.
Turner was convicted in 2016 of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster at a fraternity party when he was a student at Stanford University.
The crime could have been punished by up to 14 years in, but Persky, following the county probation department's recommendation, sentenced Turner to six months in county jail. He because of good behavior.
