Survivors of Sexual Assault Demand MT Judicial Standards Commission Censure Judge John McKeon for Sentencing Child Rapist to Only 43 Days in Prison
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Contact: Madison Donzis | madison@unbendablemedia.com | (210) 488-6220
Survivors of Sexual Assault Demand MT Judicial Standards Commission Censure Judge John McKeon for Sentencing Child Rapist to Only 43 Days in Prison
Survivors Say Judge McKeon Must be Held Accountable for Letting Rapist Off the Hook
Montana Judicial Standards Commission:
We write as survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones to urge you to hold Judge John McKeon accountable for sentencing a child rapist to a mere 43 days in prison.
Judge John McKeon exhibited bias in this decision and should be censured and forced to step down from the bench without his pension.
When judges put the safety and well-being of a rapist above the survivor and face almost no punishment, we allow them to perpetuate rape culture and send a message that men can rape women and children with impunity.
In 2013, this commission did the right thing by censuring Judge Baugh after he blamed a 14-year-old survivor for her rape. We implore you to do the right thing again and hold Judge McKeon accountable.
Signed,
Sexual assault survivors and their loved ones
“When judges like John McKeon prioritize the wellbeing of rapists over the survivors of their crimes, they are in effect normalizing sexual violence against women and sending the wrong message that men can rape women and children with virtual impunity. This is unacceptable.” explained Shaunna Thomas, co-founder of UltraViolet. “With a sexual assault happening every two minutes in the United States, we need judges that protect survivors, not their rapists. The Montana Commission on Judicial Standards should move swiftly to remove Judge McKeon from the bench and deny him his pension to send a clear signal that rape apologists will never be tolerated as part of our criminal justice system.”
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