PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 26 (UPI) -- The judge who has been publicly ridiculed for his six-month sentencing of a man convicted of sexual assault is switching to civil cases.
Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky requested his move to civil court to spare the court the negative attention it has received since June when he sentenced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to only six months for the sexual assault of an unconscious woman in a case that drew national headlines.
San Jose. Judge Vincent Chiarello will fill Persky's position in Palo Alto.
"While I firmly believe in Judge Persky's ability to serve in his current assignment, he has requested to be assigned to the civil division, in which he previously served," Presiding Judge Risë Jones said.
Since the controversial sentencing, Persky has been the target of complaints and a possible recall election next year.
Persky will continue to hear criminal cases until Sept. 6, when he returns to the civil court, court spokesman Joe Macaluso said.
Persky did not respond to requests for comment.
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