The East Bay Times reports that “at least 10 prospective jurors” refused to participate in Judge Aaron Persky’s next trial in protest at the cozy 6-month sentence (out in 12 weeks) he gave Stanford rapist Brock Turner.
“I can’t be here, I’m so upset,” one juror told the judge while the lawyers were picking the jury in the misdemeanor receiving stolen property case, according to multiple sources.
Another prospective juror stood up and said, “I can’t believe what you did,” referring to the six-month county jail sentence Persky handed to Turner, who was convicted for sexually assaulting an unconscious intoxicated woman last year outside a Stanford University frat party.
In each case, the judge said, “I understand,” thanked the prospective juror and excused her or him from duty.
Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden wrote an open letter to Turner’s victim today, praising her willingness to speak out about her treatment by her attacker and by the legal system.
And I am filled with furious anger — both that this happened to you and that our culture is still so broken that you were ever put in the position of defending your own worth.
It must have been wrenching — to relive what he did to you all over again. But you did it anyway, in the hope that your strength might prevent this crime from happening to someone else. Your bravery is breathtaking.
You are a warrior — with a solid steel spine.