Mont. judge faulted for alleged bias in rape case

[alp227]

Source: AP

Critics of a Montana judge who handed down a 30-day sentence to a former teacher convicted of raping a student lodged a formal complaint Tuesday asking for his removal from the bench.

The complaint alleges that District Judge G. Todd Baugh of Billings showed bias and undermined public confidence in the judiciary when he said the 14-year-old victim was "older than her chronological age."

It also faults Baugh for giving convicted rapist Stacey Rambold a lenient sentence that prosecutors have since appealed as illegal.

Representatives of the Montana National Organization for Women and the group UltraViolet delivered the complaint to the state Judicial Standards Commission in Helena.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/mont-judge-faulted-alleged-bias-rape-case

[WCGreen]

1. This guy should be driven off the bench...

[chervilant]

2. How bizarre is this judge?!?

Is this typical for him? I think he should have serious consequences for his actions!

[alp227]

3. No

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/28/justice/montana-judge-profile/index.html

In September 2011, Baugh sentenced a 26-year-old man to 100 years in prison, with 50 years suspended, for the rape of an 11-year-old boy, according to local media reports.

In that case, the man had met the boy at a video store and later met him at school and lured him to an empty irrigation ditch, according to local reports at the time.

In August 2012, the judge sentenced a 23-year-old man to 56 years in prison, with 31 years suspended, for possessing child pornography that included images of children under age 12. State law mandated a minimum of 25 years for such crimes. The Billings Gazette reported that the defendant also admitted to sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl, for which Baugh sentenced him to a concurrent 10-year term.

[Hydepier]

6. So he's tough on male to male sexual assault and lenient on

heterosexual assaults?


And he's harsh on child pornography?

Your point?

[gussmith]

9. So, You're Saying

this judge is somewhat consistent?

[LanternWaste]

11. From the two cases, I think we may validly infer that the judge is predisposed

From the two cases, I think we may validly infer that the judge is predisposed towards allowing leniency if the victim is female, and less leniency if the victim is male.

[LiberalAndProud]

4. Baugh is aware that the sentence was illegal.

He'd like to change his mind now.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/montana-judge-to-reconsider-30-day-sentence-for-stacey-rambold-who-admitted-rape/2013/09/04/9d85d200-1583-11e3-a2ec-b47e45e6f8ef_story.html

Baugh should be removed from the bench. Clearly he didn't consider even the law when he made this decision. I can't conclude that it was a bribe that bought the leniency, but there is something outside of the law that influenced this jurist. That much is clear.

[freshwest]

10. +1

[Doctor_J]

5. Well, duh

this one stank from the beginning.

[OnyxCollie]

7. The judge is using Islamic law.

http://www.faqs.org/childhood/In-Ke/Islam.html

Physical maturity in either sex establishes majority (bulugh) in Islamic law. There is a difference of opinion in the legal schools about the exact age, but it ranges from nine for girls to eighteen for boys, although for girls the age of menstruation is generally acceptable. If there is doubt, however, a statement by the person that he or she has reached PUBERTY is adequate. Before reaching majority, a minor is not legally recognized, does not have social responsibilities, and is under the care of a parent or guardian.

[alp227]

8. Well, that should give right wingers plenty to howl about! haha nt