I do feel that an injustice
has been done to Brock Turner.
I think what Judge Persky did was absolutely appropriate.
The judge imposed a sentence by following
the recommendation made by the probation officer.
The judge followed the recommendation
of a moderate sentence
and imposed 6 month jail sentence.
He also did a lot more.
He imposed a fine,
he required Brock Turner
to undergo anger management classes,
and he required Brock Turner to register
as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
This young man wears a scarlet letter
for the rest of his life,
that's anything but lenient.
I believe the sentence was absolutely appropriate.
I would absolutely have done the same thing
if I had presided over that case.
Judge Persky has been on the bench
for 14 years, and not once has he ever
been found to have engaged in bias or misconduct.
Please vote no on the recall of Judge Persky.
I opposed the recall because I believe Judge Aaron Persky
is unfairly targeted and secondly because this recall
was a real threat to the independence of the judiciary.
Why have we lost this whole concern
that we should have as society, for redemption.
I've heard people say those who have been
convicted of murder,
who go to prison get out.
They have a right now to redeem themselves.
But I haven't heard that for Brock Turner.
Well please welcome retired Superior Court
Judge Cordell and formal District Attorney Michael Kraut,
who believes that the Brock Turner sentencing
was an outrage.
Now joining us live from Boston via satellite
is former Prosecutor and law lecturer, Wendy Murphy.
So, Wendy thank you as well.
Guys thanks for being here.
Why do you say this was a reasonable sentence
and penalty for this young man?
I say it's reasonable because judges have to take
into consideration a number of factors, that is: the victim,
the defendant, the circumstances of the crime.
I believe that the sentence he imposed
was absolutely appropriate and he isn't the only one.
In California, when you're convicted of a felony
the Probation Department is required
to prepare a report
to look at the entire offense and to recommend a sentence.
But it is just a recommendation.
Absolutely.
The decision is with the Judge.
You're right. This was a probation recommendation
for a moderate jail sentence,
which the Judge chose to follow
and I think it was appropriate.
Well here was the sentence, he was convicted
of assault with intent to rape an intoxicated woman,
sexually penetrating a intoxicated woman
with a foreign object,
sexually penetrating an unconscious person
and the sentence was 6 months in county jail,
3 years probation,
lifetime on the sex offender registry,
mandatory sex offender rehabilitation.
Now, he could have gotten 3, 6, or 8 years
under the law, correct Michael?
That's correct.
Why not?
Why not give him more than 6 months in jail,
which is gonna be with good time 3 months,
so in 12 weeks he's out.
What we have here is a case
in which he left her, unconscious,
after sexually assaulting her.
And the only reason this individual's
being treated differently is because he's white
and he's from Stanford.
There's no other clear-cut reason.
See that's just not true and that's not based on fact.
Wendy, respond to this, if you will.
He got, certainly, a moderate or light sentence
compared to what is available under the law
but yet he was assigned a third degree category
on the sex offender registry, which is severe.
It's an important observation.
You cannot have it both ways.
This was either a severe crime,
which is why he's a level 3
or it was equivalent of shoplifting,
which is why he got 3 months.
When you are the Judge, you uphold the Constitution first.
You do equal justice under the law.
You make sure the punishment fits the crime.
He didn't do any of those things in this case.
When you rape, and brutalize in a sexual way
a completely defenseless, unconscious woman,
when you give that guy a slap on the wrist
you have declared yourself unfit to serve on the bench.