Judge in Brock Turner sentencing recalled

The California judge who made national headlines for sentencing a college athlete to six months in jail for the sexual assault of an unconscious woman was recalled Tuesday.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky had four years remaining in his term. He is the first California judge to be recalled in more than 85 years.

The results show nearly 59 percent of voters in favor of a recall, with 39 percent of precincts reporting.

{mosads}Persky sentenced then-19-year-old Brock Turner to six months in jail and three years of probation for his sexual assault conviction in 2016. Turner faced up to 14 years in prison for the crime.

Turner, a Stanford University swimmer, only served three months of his sentence, earning time off for good behavior.

Persky followed the county probation department’s recommendation in his sentencing and said that “a prison sentence would have a severe impact on [Turner].”

The survivor of the assault, who has remained anonymous, delivered a statement at Turner’s sentencing describing the impact the assault and Turner’s refusal to apologize had on her life. Her statement quickly went viral.

Efforts to recall Persky began soon after the sentencing.

Assistant District Attorney Cindy Hendrickson is poised to win the election to serve out the four remaining years of Persky’s term. She had just more than 70 percent of the vote with 39 percent of precincts reporting. 

The organizers behind the push to recall Persky did not immediately respond when asked for comment by the San Francisco Chronicle.

According to The Associated Press, which called the recall results early Wednesday morning, the vote is being viewed as one of the first victories of the “Me Too” movement this election season. 

Updated at 7:42 a.m.