Judge in Stanford rape case says his recall won’t help

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — A California judge who faces a recall vote for his handling of a sexual assault case involving a Stanford University swimmer says ousting him won’t help the movement to improve how sexual assault victims are treated.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky adds in an interview with the Mercury News editorial board that there should be criminal justice reform “where it’s smart to do so.”

Persky drew criticism after he sentenced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner in 2016 to six months in jail for sexually assaulting a woman who had passed out behind a trash bin.

The sentence ignited debate over judicial treatment of sexual assault victims.

Organizers of the recall effort have collected enough signatures to place the question on the June 5 ballot.

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Information from: San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, http://www.mercurynews.com