New Jersey judge forced to explain why he asked alleged rape victim if she kept her legs closed
The New Jersey Superior Court judge who was suspended last May for asking an alleged rape victim if she kept her legs closed said he was just trying to “draw out” details from the woman.
John F. Russo testified in front of the state Advisory Board of Judicial Conduct Wednesday and denied any wrongdoing.
"I wanted to make sure I gave her the opportunity, every chance I could, to get the facts on the record that would go to establishing her claims of domestic violence,'' he said, according to the Asbury Park Press. "When she was testifying, she was just making blanket assertions, she wasn't providing the facts.”
In 2016, Russo stepped in during a hearing and questioned the woman instead of the defense lawyer.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-news-judge-rape-victim-legs-closed-20181017-story.html