Judge who told woman to ‘close your legs’ to prevent assault is removed from bench

https://news.yahoo.com/judge-told-woman-close-legs-100053991.html

Gino Spocchia ,The Independent•May 27, 2020

A New Jersey judge who said closing your legs could prevent sexual assault has been barred from presiding over a courtroom and dismissed from the State Supreme Court bench. The unanimous decision on Tuesday cited “repeated and serious acts of misconduct” by state superior court judge John Russo Jr. Chief Justice Stuart Rabner wrote that it would be “inconceivable” for Mr Russo to preside over domestic violence or sexual assault matters after making those comments.

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The report by the three-judge panel noted four instances of misconduct — including a matrimonial matter for which he did not recuse himself even though he knew someone involved.

The panel added that he had “lacked candour, fabricated after-the-fact explanations for events, and displayed a lack of integrity that is unworthy of judicial office”.