The female judge who won legions of fans for her tough, no nonsense approach during Larry Nassar’s sentencing, has come under fire for suggesting she would sentence the disgraced doctor to be sexually assaulted as punishment.
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina listens to Abigayle Bergeron’s victim statement during the sixth day of Larry Nassar’s sentencing hearing Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, in Lansing, Mich. Nassar has admitted sexually assaulting athletes when he was employed by Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, which is the sport’s national governing organization and trains Olympians. (Dale G. Young/Detroit News via AP)[/caption]
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said that if the Constitution didn’t prohibit cruel and unusual punishment, she ‘might allow what he did to all of these beautiful souls – these young women in their childhood – I would allow someone or many people to do to him what he did to others.’
The controversial comment has drawn criticism from some who warned it could appear as though the judge condoned an eye-for-an-eye revenge brand of justice.
‘Would you really sentence somebody to be subjected to sexual abuse?’ Laurie Levenson, a criminal law professor at Loyola Law School, said to ABC News. ‘I think judges have to be really careful about the words that they use.’
The Atlantic’s Graeme Wood wrote that the comment had ‘diminished’ the ‘dignity of the proceedings’.
‘Subjecting Nassar to a lifetime of rape is not my idea of justice, and fantasizing about it is not my idea of judicial temperament,’ he added.
Others expressed concern that Aquilina’s statement appeared to make light of the ‘prison rape epidemic.’
Eric Levitz from the New York Intelligencer wrote: ‘Call me crazy, but I don’t think judges should tell defendants that they would like to see them get gang-raped. Not because Nasser deserves better, but because we live in a country with a prison rape epidemic.
Noah Berlatsky added: ‘Judges shouldn’t be indulging in prison rape revenge fantasies from the bench, IMO. Signals that prison rape is just (if not legal) and so makes it difficult to get problem treated seriously.’
Nassar was sentenced on Wednesday to 175 years in jail after admitting molesting some of the United States’ top gymnasts for years.
The judge, who had been lauded for her deft and respectful handling of the sensitive and highly emotional trial, capped off her week with a barnstorming attack on the disgraced medic.
Judge Aquilina told him ‘I just signed your death warrant’ after a remarkable seven-day hearing in which scores of victims were able to confront him face to face in a Michigan courtroom.
Aquilina said Nassar’s ‘decision to assault was precise, calculated, manipulative, devious, despicable’.
‘It is my honor and privilege to sentence you. You do not deserve to walk outside a prison ever again. You have done nothing to control those urges and anywhere you walk, destruction will occur to those most vulnerable,’ a visibly furious Aquilina stated.
Many of Nassar’s victims, including Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, praised Aquilina’s tough tactics.
Levenson said that while people weren’t used to hearing judges talking so aggressively to defendants, and that if Aquilina had used such language in a trial, it would have been inappropriate as it could have swayed a jury.
‘If this were a trial, statements she has made would be problematic and certainly create an appellate issue, but this wasn’t a trial … he had already plead guilty,’ said ABC News chief legal analyst Dan Abrams.
However, Levenson did take issue with the judge’s use of the phrase ‘death warrant.’
‘We do really have death warrants and this wasn’t one’ she said.
However, Abrams said that while the judge’s comments were unusual, they helped create an environment for the victims who felt safe and ‘knew that their voices were heard and respected.’
Biles has sung Aquilina’s praises on Twitter, saying: ‘To Judge Aquilina: Thank you, you are my hero & Shout out to all of the survivors for being so brave & speaking like the queens that you are while looking at that monster.
‘He will no longer have the power to steal our happiness or joy. I stand with every one of you’, Biles tweeted
Next to the words the gymnast shared a yellow heart emoji and a photo of Judge Aquilina with a quote from one of her many speeches to Nassar’s victims. ‘Leave your pain here. Go out and do your magnificent things,’ it says.
Earlier this month, the four-time Olympic champion revealed she was assaulted by Nassar – adding her name to at least 156 young athletes molested by the Michigan State University medic.
Aquilina said Nassar’s ‘decision to assault was precise, calculated, manipulative, devious, despicable’.
‘It is my honor and privilege to sentence you. You do not deserve to walk outside a prison ever again. You have done nothing to control those urges and anywhere you walk, destruction will occur to those most vulnerable,’ a visibly furious Aquilina stated.
The judge, who has been lauded for her deft and respectful handling of the sensitive and highly emotional trial, capped off her week with a barnstorming attack on the disgraced medic.
Nassar, who served as the USA Gymnastics physician through four Olympic Games, apologized to his victims but Aquilina dismissed his statement as insincere and courtroom spectators gasped as the judge read aloud from a letter he wrote to her claiming he was a good doctor who was manipulated into pleading guilty.
Nassar, who is already serving a 60-year sentence in federal prison for child pornography convictions, also said his accusers fabricated claims to gain money and fame and wrote, ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.’
‘Would you like to withdraw your plea?’, Aquilina asked Nassar after tossing aside his letter with evident disgust.
‘No, your honor,’ Nassar said.
‘Because you are guilty, aren’t you? Are you guilty, sir?’ the judge demanded.
After a long pause, Nassar said quietly, ‘I have said my plea, exactly.’
It is not surprising that the tough-talking judge once had the nickname Barracuda Aquilina.
‘I’m a fighter,’ she said in a 2014 profile. ‘I don’t take no for an answer. I don’t let anyone create a mold for me. I’m going to make my own mold. I stand up for people and say, `We’re going to do what’s right.’’
The mother of five has overseen a mountain of evidence and testimony against Nassar.
Patient and supportive, she has allowed victims to speak at the last minute and has asked relatives and others supporting victims to the dock. At every turn she reassured and encouraged the young women testifying.
Twitter users have flocked to praise her throughout the trial.
‘The women who have spoken out against Larry Nassar are brave, beautiful heroes. And Judge Aquilina is a damn queen,’ tweeted one New York woman, echoing the sentiments of many others who have posted.
‘Judge Aquilina is incredible for letting this happen and supporting all of these women,’ tweeted another.
A third wrote: ‘I love that Judge Aquilina has been so supportive to all the survivors who have been brave enough to speak their truth in the presence of Nassar and the world. I can only imagine how much her kind and empowering words mean to all those courageous women!’
Several have called her ‘awesome,’ ‘amazing,’ and a ‘hero’ for giving each one a chance to speak and turning the spotlight on this issue.
‘The Judge handling the Larry Nassar trial and victim impact statements is utterly amazing. Would love to give her a hug one day for her kind words to the survivors,’ wrote one.
By HANNAH PARRY
Source: DailyMail.com
Judge Aquilina said she had no dog in this fight, but I reckon she does. She seems to me to enjoy seeing men getting beaten up on. Two wrongs do not make a right. Nasser did vile things, if the testimonies are true, but to me the judge seems an equally unattractive character.
Why? Because she nailed this creep by making him face those that he molested .
she needs to learn some manners
the power of the state must be maintained in a rational manner
if the state imprisons, then the state has an obligation to provide humane conditions regardless of the crime or feeling
My daughter was not his victim and i did not have to hear the excruciating testimony of so many young women. Still i wanted to strangle the scum and loved seeing the judge stand up for the victims. Count me as someone who is tired of victims being left exposed while criminals have media proxies turn them into the victimized. If our laws were written by me it would be a death sentence. If my daughter were a victim, i would want to be the executioner.
Judge Aquilina, you are a wonder! Thank you for standing up for those that can’t.
As for those that would criticize the judge, after so many years of all the lies and pain caused by Nobama and Killary, why on Earth would you be offended by honesty? Any woman who chose a career to protect the innocent (whether they’re the defendant or for the prosecution) is more than allowed to get her dander up in a case like THIS! Judge Aquilina was very proper through the trial. At sentencing, after it’s all over, is when THEY’RE ALLOWED TO HAVE AN OPINION! With this case, any NORMAL human being would be APPALLED at the devastation this evil creature left in his wake.
He destroyed the ability for his victims to TRUST ANYONE THAT COULD CAUSE THEM HARM. Nothing .. absolutely nothing that the judge could say at sentencing would be “too much”.
The reality of prison life is that Bubba is real. You can fight off one, maybe two .. but gang rapes are real. For the judge to say he should be targeted, in my book, that’s just justice for what he did.
I totally stand behind the Judge in her statement. If there is justice, he will pay .. for a long time!
I watched this everyday , and all I can say is I with there were judges like her in every state. SHE WAS AWESOME.