As it should be considering that the judge in this case essentially followed the rule of law in the sentencing process. I can't help but think that many of these protesters likely voted for the legislation that set the stage for this outcome. There are definitely consequences and downsides to enacting legislation that allows for decriminalization, diminishing what constitutes a violent crime, and early release programs. That becomes the rule of law, and that's what judges have to adhere to.

[Portion removed.] Persky's judgement was reasoned and lawful. [Portion removed.]

[Post removed due to same poster using multiple names]

Does Michele Dauber understand that she's reinforcing the idea that it is now okay to berate "so-called judges?" I don't know anyone who agrees with the Turner sentence, myself included. Dauber and the young woman have already accomplished a tremendous victory in compelling Judge Persky to discontinue hearing any sexual assault cases. I don't recall anyone saying he planned that before the Turner case. Dauber's campaign forced Persky out. He now hears only civil cases. Why isn't that appropriate and enough? Dauber seems determined to hound this judge, no matter the cost. Can't the $400,000 she has raised be better used? This seems like her personal vendetta against Persky and not a reasonable response to the situation.

Folks seem to forget that Judge Persky actually followed the recommendation of the Adult Probation Department in his sentencing of Brock Turner. While many, myself included, may believe that it was an inappropriate sentence, Judge Persky was simply following the advice offered by sentencing professionals. I have appeared before and worked with Judge Persky in divorce and custody matters. He has precisely the temperament and caring attitude that divorcing families need to have.

But the real, unanswered Q is why was Persky re-elected in November 2016 to begin with? By then, wasn't Michelle Dauber's recall campaign already in full-swing?

Wonderment --

Judge Persky was not "re-elected" in November. Because there were no challengers, his name did not actually appear on the ballot. Citizens had no opportunity to actually vote for him or write in another candidate. Judge Persky was automatically granted another term in office without any votes being cast.

Now, there's a rule that could be easily fixed.

Persky has made so many other bad decisions, including freeing a wife-beater who went back to abusing her.

He's a sorry excuse for a judge who seems not to take violence against women seriously, especially if the offender attends or attended Stanford....
Persky needs to be removed from the bench post haste!

@Good Ole Boy,

Can you provide your statistics? How many cases has he adjudicated and what were the outcomes of all of them? Not just one case here, one case there but a detailed breakdown of why he should be removed with a list of all the cases he's been involved with to back it up.

[Portion removed.]

I agree with Saban and appreciate that she has the courage to articulate her concerns. Wanting to maintain an independent judiciary is not equivalent to blaming the victim, approving the sentencing, or accepting "good ol' boy" actions. I also think it is time to let the healing begin in this truly tragic case and fail to see how the recall contributes to that.

" Can't the $400,000 she has raised be better used? This seems like her personal vendetta against Persky and not a reasonable response to the situation."

It's a lot more than that:
- $400,000 funds raised to fight against Persky
- $576,075 that the taxpayers must pay to fund the re-call election
- $??? that will be spent on the other side

So it's not $400,000 for this "personal vendatta" but over a million dollars!

See the second question and answer on this page

Web Link

This is not an isolated incident. This man has a long record of leniency toward affluent athletes.

Donors who give to a political campaign do so because they support that campaign. Donors who have given to the recall did so because they support recalling Judge Persky and the fact that Professor Dauber has raised so much money for this campaign is a sign of both the breadth and the intensity of support for the campaign. By contrast, Judge Persky has raised very little, the vast majority from fellow judges and public defenders who practiced before him.

While commenters here will be voting no on the recall, as is there right, 67% of Santa Clara County voters support the recall , and women support it by more than 4:1. So clearly to those voters and donors, the money is not wasted.

As for the cost of the election, the recall campaign is to be commended for deciding to put the election off until June so that it would not require a special election. That shows that the proponents are not, as claimed in this thread, on some ego trip or vendetta but are carefully balancing community values and concerns so as NOT to waste taxpayer money.

I believe -- along with a lot of lawyers I know -- that Judge Persky should resign. Even those who are supporting him publicly are saying behind the scenes that he should quit. Representative Jackie Speier called for him to resign publicly. Representatives Khanna, Swalwell, and McNerney have supported and endorsed the recall as has State Senate President Kevin De Leon and former mayor Pat Burt and current Palo Alto City Council member Corey Wolbach. That does not sound like one woman's private "vendetta." It sounds like broad non-ideological support for getting rid of a biased judge.

Since the above link to the "recall persky" website was left, here are the links to the other views:

California Bar Association Statement: Web Link

"In view of these principles, the SCCBA opposes the present attempts to remove Judge Persky from the bench based on his sentence in the Brock Turner case. The SCCBA has seen no credible assertions that in issuing the sentence, Judge Persky violated the law or his ethical obligations or acted in bad faith. Nor is the SCCBA aware of any other complaints or allegations of impropriety against Judge Persky during his 13 years on the bench. Seeking to punish a judge under these circumstances presents the very threat to judicial independence that the SCCBA has resolved to condemn."


Retired Judges Statement: Web Link

"We firmly believe that removing Judge Persky from office under these circumstances would set a dangerous precedent and be a serious threat to judicial independence."


COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE statement: Web Link

"The commission has concluded that there is not clear and convincing evidence of bias, abuse of authority, or other basis to conclude that Judge Persky engaged injudicial misconduct warranting discipline."


These are all un-biased, well-informed decisions provided after significant resources and investigations from the main legal boards in the state.

Here is an article about the Recall campaign's reply to the Commission on Judicial Performance. The CJP is a troubled agency with a history of making closed-door decisions to protect their own. It is under audit by the state and has sued to block the audit. That agency is a joke and everyone knows it. They literally never discipline judges. They should change their name to the Commission for Judicial Protection.

Web Link

If you like leaving rapists and wife beaters in the community where they can reoffend, Persky is your man. All I can say is it's a damn good thing that the recall resulted in him leaving the Palo Alto criminal courthouse or he would be sentencing Ronnie Farrell to after school detention instead of prison where he belongs.

Everyone can vote their conscience in this election. I am saying no to privileged white rapists getting away with it.

"That agency is a joke and everyone knows it. "

Yeah! Along with retired judges and the California Bar Association! What do these so called experts know?!

The Brock Turner case was a politically-contrived spectacle, staged by utterly ruthless Democratic Party operatives like Michelle Dauber. They believed that the affair would help Hillary Clinton's campaign by activating a very affluent upper-middle-class social constituency that is obsessed with gender and other forms of essentially reactionary identity politics. This is what the case was all about. Both Brock Turner and the alleged victim were used. The unfortunate encounter between two immature and inebriated young people should not, based on the facts of this case, have become a criminal proceeding.

[Post removed.]

If you are wondering how a recall election works, this short video from the campaign gives an entertaining and excellent introduction. It really clarifies how it works, and why it is just a call for an early election. Judge Persky is elected not appointed, and he is going to have to stand for re-election whether it is in 2022 or now. If the voters of the county want to vote on him in 2018 instead of 2022 and then can get the signatures for it, then there is no problem with that.

Web Link

And I say kudos and thank you to the proponents of this grass-roots initiative which was started by women who are sick and tired of having to accept injustice in rape cases. "Enough is Enough" is the campaign slogan and I agree.

Persky has a legacy of lenient sentencing for rapists, wife beaters, and privileged white make athletes... if he sentences them at all. (Turner ?)

The outrage and recall efforts by the community have driven this poor excuse for a judge out of Palo Alto criminal courthouse cases and will hopefully soon remove him from his seat altogether. [Portion removed.]