Judge who made comment in rape case wants state Supreme Court to decide his punishment
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Montana judge who said a 14-year-old rape victim appeared older than her chronological age has waived formal proceedings and asked the state Supreme Court to decide his punishment.
District Judge G. Todd Baugh said in a court filing Tuesday that his actions appeared improper and failed to promote public confidence in the courts. He says he is waiving the pending proceedings before a judicial oversight panel.
The Montana Judicial Standards Commission filed a complaint against the Billings judge earlier this month, citing his comments about the victim and the lenient, one-month prison sentence that Baugh gave to the rapist.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The judge has previously said he expects to be publicly reprimanded or censured over his handling of the case. Critics have called for his removal from the bench.