U.S. judge says victims' bodies can prevent rape
Page 1 of 1
U.S. judge says victims' bodies can prevent rape
11:17PM EST December 13. 2012 - SANTA ANA, California (AP) — A Southern California judge is being publicly admonished for saying a rape victim "didn't put up a fight" during her assault and that if someone doesn't want sexual intercourse, the body "will not permit that to happen."
The California Commission on Judicial Performance voted 10-0 to impose a public admonishment Thursday, saying Superior Court Judge Derek Johnson's comments were inappropriate and a breach of judicial ethics.
"In the commission's view, the judge's remarks reflected outdated, biased and insensitive views about sexual assault victims who do not 'put up a fight.' Such comments cannot help but diminish public confidence and trust in the impartiality of the judiciary," wrote Lawrence J. Simi, the commission's chairman.
Johnson made the comments in the case of a man who threatened to mutilate the face and genitals of his ex-girlfriend with a heated screwdriver, beat her with a metal baton and made other violent threats before committing rape, forced oral copulation, and other crimes.
Though the woman reported the criminal threats the next day, the woman did not report the rape until 17 days later.
Johnson, a former prosecutor in the Orange County district attorney's sex crimes unit, said during the man's 2008 sentencing that he had seen violent cases on that unit in which women's vaginas were "shredded" by rape.
"I'm not a gynecologist, but I can tell you something: If someone doesn't want to have sexual intercourse, the body shuts down. The body will not permit that to happen unless a lot of damage is inflicted, and we heard nothing about that in this case," Johnson said.
The commission found that Johnson's view that a victim must resist to be a real victim of sexual assault was his opinion, not the law. Since 1980, California law doesn't require rape victims to prove they resisted or were prevented from resisting because of threats.
In an apology to the commission, Johnson said his comments were inappropriate. He said his comments were the result of his frustration during an argument with a prosecutor over the defendant's sentence.
Johnson said he believed the prosecutor's request of a 16-year sentence was not authorized by law. Johnson sentenced the rapist to six years instead, saying that's what the case was "worth."
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/13/judge-women-rape-victims/1768673/
The California Commission on Judicial Performance voted 10-0 to impose a public admonishment Thursday, saying Superior Court Judge Derek Johnson's comments were inappropriate and a breach of judicial ethics.
"In the commission's view, the judge's remarks reflected outdated, biased and insensitive views about sexual assault victims who do not 'put up a fight.' Such comments cannot help but diminish public confidence and trust in the impartiality of the judiciary," wrote Lawrence J. Simi, the commission's chairman.
Johnson made the comments in the case of a man who threatened to mutilate the face and genitals of his ex-girlfriend with a heated screwdriver, beat her with a metal baton and made other violent threats before committing rape, forced oral copulation, and other crimes.
Though the woman reported the criminal threats the next day, the woman did not report the rape until 17 days later.
Johnson, a former prosecutor in the Orange County district attorney's sex crimes unit, said during the man's 2008 sentencing that he had seen violent cases on that unit in which women's vaginas were "shredded" by rape.
"I'm not a gynecologist, but I can tell you something: If someone doesn't want to have sexual intercourse, the body shuts down. The body will not permit that to happen unless a lot of damage is inflicted, and we heard nothing about that in this case," Johnson said.
The commission found that Johnson's view that a victim must resist to be a real victim of sexual assault was his opinion, not the law. Since 1980, California law doesn't require rape victims to prove they resisted or were prevented from resisting because of threats.
In an apology to the commission, Johnson said his comments were inappropriate. He said his comments were the result of his frustration during an argument with a prosecutor over the defendant's sentence.
Johnson said he believed the prosecutor's request of a 16-year sentence was not authorized by law. Johnson sentenced the rapist to six years instead, saying that's what the case was "worth."
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/13/judge-women-rape-victims/1768673/
Forum Gawd- Boss
- Number of posts : 4842
Registration date : 2009-09-16
Age : 30
Location : Athol Street Nd Hemlock.!!!
Similar topics
» More than half of San Bernardino homicide victims in May associated with gangs
» UPDATE: Suspects in Rialto stabbing planned to set victims on fire
» Judge issues injunction against six L.A. gangs
» Judge orders Google to release data to FBI
» SAN BERNARDINO: "Dead Presidents"
» UPDATE: Suspects in Rialto stabbing planned to set victims on fire
» Judge issues injunction against six L.A. gangs
» Judge orders Google to release data to FBI
» SAN BERNARDINO: "Dead Presidents"
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
Sat Oct 12, 2024 12:51 am by socalifascolonias
» Inland Empire Gang List
Fri Aug 02, 2024 4:12 am by kamikazi1
» Perris Street Gangs
Thu Jul 25, 2024 12:45 pm by Blakkkk
» SOUTHSIDE COLTON LA PALOMA PARK LOKOS Ost GANG
Mon Apr 08, 2024 9:42 pm by Esemuggzy
» MCP13 WHO ARE THEY?
Sun Feb 25, 2024 8:09 pm by villejuggin
» Gangs that have died out
Mon Jan 15, 2024 11:59 am by Morrolooooks
» Fontana pt2
Sun Jan 14, 2024 11:59 am by Morrolooooks
» Inactive Fontana gangs
Sat Jan 13, 2024 5:43 pm by Morrolooooks
» IE gangs in the 90s
Sat Jan 13, 2024 3:58 am by 627.loka