Stanford Rape Case Judge Transfers From Criminal to Civil Court

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, who oversaw the controversial Stanford rape case, requested to stop handling criminal matters and move to civil court.

The request was approved by the county’s presiding Judge Rise Pichon, but the assignment will be reviewed on September 6

“While I firmly believe in Judge Persky’s ability to serve in his current assignment, he has requested to be assigned to the civil division, in which he previously served,” Pichon said in a statement Thursday. “Judge Persky believes the change will aid the public and the court by reducing the distractions that threaten to interfere with his ability to effectively discharge the duties of his current criminal assignment.”

Also Read: Stanford Rape Case Judge Ruled Harsher Sentence for Similar Sexual Assault Case

Hundreds of thousands of people signed a petition calling for the removal of Persky, who sentenced a former Stanford University swimmer to just six months in county jail after he was found guilty of raping an unconscious woman on campus. The victim read an emotional statement to Turner in court, questioning whether the probation officer’s recommendation of a year or less in county jail was severe enough.

Despite national outrage, various colleagues of Persky praised the judge in response to the criticism. Barbara Muller, a criminal defense attorney who works two weeks out of every month in Persky’s court, said he was “one of the fairest judges” in the country, and that he “considers all facts and is very thorough.”

The Scene at ShortList 2016: TheWrap's 5th Annual Short Film Festival (Photos)

TheWrap's Sharon Waxman and Steve Pond join the finalists at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival on Wedenesday night at YouTube Space LA.
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"Maman(s)" director Maïmouna Doucouré accepts the Imax Jury Prize at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Slingshot" director David Hansen accepts the Audience Prize at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Thunder Road" director Jim Cummings accepts the Creators League Prize at the fith annual ShortList Film Festival.
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Finalists on stage at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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Jury members Catherine Hardwicke, Kevin Iwashina, Bec Smith, Jennifer Levine and TheWrap's Sharon Waxman at the ShortList Film Festival ceremony.
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Finalist filmmakers mingle at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Glove" directors Alexa Lim Haas and Bernardo Britto at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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The crowd at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Thunder Road" director Jim Cummings and PepsiCo's Ally Polly at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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The crowd at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"The Send-Off" directors Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan talk budgets at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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Director Jörn Threlfall, jury member Jennifer Levine, Sharon Waxman and director Maïmouna Doucouré at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"These C*cksucking Tears" director Dan Taberski speaks at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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The crowd at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Boxeadora" director Meg Smaker speaks on stage at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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Jury members Catherine Hardwicke, Kevin Iwashina, Bec Smith, Jennifer Levine and TheWrap's Sharon Waxman.
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TheWrap's Sharon Waxman and "Over" director Jörn Threlfall at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Honest Trailers" creator Andy Signore at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival, who presented the Audience Prize
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The crowd at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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The crowd at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Killer" director Matt Kazman at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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The crowd at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Glove" directors Alexa Lim Haas and Bernardo Britto at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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Finalist filmmakers mingle at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Maman(s)" director Maïmouna Doucouré speaks on stage at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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TheWrap's Sharon Waxman opens the awards ceremony at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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Finalists on stage at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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Finalists on stage at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Maman(s)" director Maïmouna Doucouré on stage at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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Finalists on stage at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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Finalists on stage at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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Finalists on stage at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Thunder Road" director Jim Cummings on stage at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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Directors Maïmouna Doucouré and Dan Taberski at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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Jury member Jennifer Levine at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Slingshot" director David Hansen at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Boxeadora" director Meg Smaker at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"These C*cksucking Tears" director Dan Taberski at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Maman(s)" director Maïmouna Doucouré at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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Jury member Kevin Iwashina at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"The Send-Off" directors Ivete Lucas and Patrick Bresnan at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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PepsiCo's Ally Polly at the 5th Annual ShortList Film Festival.
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TheWrap's Sharon Waxman at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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The crowd at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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PepsiCo's Ally Polly on stage at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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The crowd at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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TheWrap's Sharon Waxman and Jury member Catherine Hardwicke at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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The crowd at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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The crowd at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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"Slingshot" director David Hansen at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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The crowd at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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The crowd at the fifth annual ShortList Film Festival.
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