Another great story from florida: judge insults rape victim

[veganwitch]

Cross posting this from another forum. didnt have a hyperlink.

Judge Apologizes For Comment About Rape Victim

POSTED: 11:03 AM EST January 29, 2004
UPDATED: 4:47 PM EST January 29, 2004

SANFORD, Fla. -- Prosecutors in Seminole County said they might ask a veteran judge to be removed from a rape case because of comments the judge made about the victim.

Court records indicate Circuit Judge Gene Stephenson made the comment earlier this week while looking at a photograph of the victim. The record quotes the judge as saying, "Why would he want to rape her? She doesn't look like a day at the beach."

Stephenson said he didn't remember making the comment, but he apologized Thursday.

"The remarks were inappropriate. It's something I've never done before and won't do again," Stephenson said. "I would just ask that she accept my apology. If she could find it in her heart to accept it, I'd appreciate it."

Suspect Brian Joseph Huffman is charged with beating and raping the woman on New Year's Eve of 2002. He faces life in prison if convicted.

The victim was a 57-year-old woman, who said the judge's comments are "appalling." She said she intends the file a complaint with the Judicial Qualifications Commission, which has the power to recommend that Stephenson be removed from the bench.

Copyright 2004 by WESH.COM. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

1. good god

that's right up the street.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

2. did anyone get a gander of the fat pig judge who said that! omfg!

he is a disgusting pig and should be REMOVED! disbarred!NEVER to sit on any bench ever again!!! :puke: :puke: :puke:

[peekaloo]

8. yep....and I must say

he left me drier than the Sahara....;-)

[veganwitch]

10. anyone got a pic?

my pregnancy, so far, has killed my sex drive so ive got nothing to worry about. :)

[peekaloo]

13. .........

[ElsewheresDaughter]

17. that's a younger trimemr old pic ......i just saw him on TV he has

huge jowls and chins that ungulate when he speaks

[cosmicdot]

12. another pix

[watercolors]

15. has to be an old pic

he is older and now has jowls on those pudgy cheeks.

[MrPrax]

20. Exactly...

Anyone with such physical appearance and inability to control their 'appetites' is clearly not capable of 'interpreting' law.

Very surprising there are 'legal' people who still think this way...

Sorta like it's your fault if your house was broken into--'you have too many valuable things that enticed them'

Be nice if judges et. al. simply ruled on the evidence presented

[Flagg]

3. Florida and Texas

2 states we could do without

[GOPisEvil]

6. Thanks...where do you propose they send me?

Will I have job when I get there?

[veganwitch]

7. my thoughts exactly

nothing wrong, necessarily, with the people who live there but sweet jebus!! the most fucked up things are coming from there lately.

[demnan]

4. Half the men who saw the photos probably thought the same thing

There is a tremendous lack of respect for women who are not beautiful sexual figures in this society. Somehow I think our society has gone backwards in it's regard for decency and respect for human beings.

[veganwitch]

9. but this just proves that rape has nothing to do with sex

and sexual arrousal and everything to do with violence and power.

[Muddleoftheroad]

18. It has to do with both

The problem with this judge is that he will likely NOT be removed. Such a statement is offensive to both left AND right, but seldom do we seek alliances with the other side to rid ourselves of such madmen. We should have NOW and Phyllis Schlafly down there calling for this scumbag's removal.

But it won't happen. Cases like this always get swept under the rug. That's what happens when legislatures are stocked with lawyers.

[xultar]

5. Sounds like a rapist...n/t

[cosmicdot]

11. elected without any opposition

Biography

JUDGE GENE R. STEPHENSON
http://www.jud18.flcourts.org/18th_stuff/seminole/jb_stephenson.html

Seminole County Courthouse
301 North Park Avenue
Sanford, Florida 32771-1292


Education:
Stetson University, Deland, Florida — B.A.
Stetson University College of Law, St. Petersburg, Florida — L.L.B. J.D.

Professional History:
Admitted to Florida Bar, 1960
Admitted to the U. S. District Court, 1961 to present
Orange County Bar Association, 1959 — 1965
Seminole County Bar Association, 1966 to present
U. S. Court of Claims, 1974 to present
U.S. Supreme Court 1978 to present

Judicial History:
Elected Circuit Judge, 18th Judicial Circuit of Florida, 1994
Served in the juvenile division of 1995 — June 1998
Serving in civil/family/probate — June 1998 to present
Administrative Judge in the juvenile Division for 3 1/2 years
Municipal Judge — Altamonte Springs, Florida — 1965 — 1976
Municipal Judge — Longwood, Florida 1967 — 1976

Organizations, Committees and Commissions:
President, Seminole County Bar — 1973 — 1974
Central Florida Criminal Defense Organization
Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers (Inactive)
Masonic Lodge
Eckerd Academy — Advisory Committee
Seminole Community College — Advisory Committee (Legal)
Rotarian
Civilian-Military Leaders (Brevard Chapter)

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:
Seminole County School Board — in recognition of "Children Making Choices" Program

Articles Published:
A Guide to Families in Delinquency Proceedings (Edited Booklet in English and Spanish For use in Seminole County- 18th Judicial Circuit)

Guardianship Law (a manual for use in fulfilling the Guardianship Education Requirement pursuant to F.S. 744.3145)

Military history:
1st Lt., United States Army
Branch Assignment — Artillery
Ft. Benning, Columbus, Georgia
Ft. Sill, Oklahoma
Ft. Bragg, North Carolina

http://www.brevardelections.org/00candno.htm

[Fridays Child]

14. Sentence the judge to life.

The a**hole should be made to clean the woman's bathroom and take out her garbage every day for the rest of his life.

[MsFlorida]

16. He is on my street - seminole county

Not surprising, we own Debra Nelson too. She's the one that made the decision that put Bush where he is today.

[jonoboy]

19. the freepers are blaming female soldiers in Iraq who have been assaulted..

it's nothing new