According to the East Bay Times, as many as 10 prospective jurors have refused to serve in Judge Aaron Persky’s courtroom – the judge who gave Stanford Rapist Brock Turner a measly 6-month sentence that he’ll only serve 3-months of.
The Times’ report says that one prospective juror told Persky, “I can’t believe what you did,” while another juror said, “I’m sorry, I can’t be here,” to which Persky said, “I understand” and dismissed them.
From the East Bay Times:
Persky’s supporters said Thursday that some of the jurors’ protest statements may well have been genuine. But others may have been prompted by a desire to get out of jury duty.
However, the tactic could prove more problematic if it spreads because it could prolong the jury selection process, as it did in this trial.
Judge Persky scrapped a possible 2-year sentence for Turner and instead sentenced him to 6-months in county jail (of which he’ll only serve 3) and 3 years probation. Persky said that Turner’s youth and his lack of a criminal record were “unusual circumstances” that called for mercy.
The sentence sparked a huge outcry from the Internet, especially after the victim’s impassioned, 12-page letter went viral. Stanford law professor Michele Dauber has launched a campaign to have Persky removed from the bench.
Watch Dauber’s appearance on Democracy Now! in the video below:
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