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 — More than 100 survivors of sexual assault plus dozens of their loved ones have signed onto a letter to the Montana Judicial Standards Commission demanding the Commission censure Judge McKeon after he sentenced a man who repeatedly raped his twelve-year-old daughter to only 43 days in prison.  The letter, organized by UltraViolet, a national women’s advocacy organization, calls on the Judicial Standards Commission to remove Judge McKeon from the bench and revoke his pension for “perpetuating rape culture and sending a message that men can rape women and children with impunity.”   The letter reads:

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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