Thousands push for judge in Stanford sex assault case to be removed

[TomSea]

Thousands push for judge in Stanford sex assault case to be removed

SAN FRANCISCO -- A judge who sentenced a former Stanford University swimmer to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman is facing widespread backlash and criticism, and even calls for him to be removed from the bench.

On campus and on social media, Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky has been vilified as too lenient on a privileged athlete from a top-tier swimming program in a case that captured the national spotlight.

Some are urging for his removal in Change.org petitions. One Change.org petition already has more then 100,000 signatures online. There's also a second campaign to review the case and the judge's sentence.

"Judge Persky failed to see that the fact that Brock Turner is a white male star athlete at a prestigious university does not entitle him to leniency," the petition reads. "He also failed to send the message that sexual assault is against the law regardless of social class, race, gender or other factors. Please help rectify this travesty to justice."

More: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/thousands-push-for-judge-in-stanford-sex-assault-case-to-be-removed-brock-turner/