Group Steps up Effort to Remove Embattled Judge in Stanford Rape Case

SAN FRANCISCO (TheBlaze/AP) — A women's advocacy group says it will turn in petitions urging a California agency to remove the judge who sentenced a former Stanford University swimmer to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman.

The organization, UltraViolet, says it's collected more than 824,000 signatures and other groups have gathered thousands more that they'll deliver Friday to the California Commission on Judicial Performance. The agency investigates complaints of judicial misconduct and disciplines judges.

Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky has faced intense outcry after sentencing 20-year-old Brock Turner last week to six months in jail and three years' probation for the assault.

Persky says he followed a recommendation from the county's probation department and cited Turner's clean criminal record and the effect the conviction will have on his life.

In addition, KPIX-TV confirmed that 20 jurors refused to serve in Persky’s courtroom Wednesday — and cited the judge as a hardship.