Montana Lawyers Honor Judge Who Said Slutty Teen Rape Victim Was Asking For It, Just Because

You would think, after the Montana Supreme Court censured and suspended District Judge G. Todd Baugh for issuing one of the most despicable orders to a convicted rapistever, that would be the last we'd hear about Judge Baugh. But nope, the Yellowstone Area Bar Association has decided he deserves a lifetime achievement award after 30 years on the bench -- from which he had to resign in disgrace by retiring that year. In case you've succeeded in bleaching that horror show from your brain, let us remind you. 

Fifty-four-year-old teacher Stacey Rambold was sentenced to a whopping 30 days in prison for raping a 14-year-old student because, according to Judge Baugh, the rape victim was "older than her chronological age" and "as much in control of the situation," and while technically "a 14-year-old can’t consent," it's not as if this was a "forcible beat-up rape." Also, the child was troubled -- maybe that's why she killed herself before the trial? -- and you can'treallyrape a troubled teenager, at least not in the "forcible beat-up" way, can you?

The state's Supreme Court ultimately ordered a new judge to re-sentence the rapist -- he's now serving 10 years -- and told Judge Baugh he is THE WORST.

Which means Montana's lawyers must have a really good reason for wanting to give him a shiny medal, right?

Yellowstone Area Bar Association President Jessica Fehr said Thursday that former state District Judge G. Todd Baugh of Billings was chosen for the award by the group’s board of directors. […]

Fear said Baugh had been nominated for the award by members of the bar association, but she declined to say who that was or why he was chosen.

Oh. Well, whoever quietly nominated him must have some good explanation for wanting to give the judge an award. Like how sorry he is.

He also repeated his assertion that media reports about the rape case had not told the whole story.

"I'm not trying to say I didn't make any mistakes. If you go into all the mistakes that were made, it would give a better-balanced report," Baugh said.

Hmm. Maybe not. Whatever. There are some folks in Montana who think that sure, maybe that one ruling was kinda bad, but overall, Baugh was a terrific judge, and he only blamed thatonevictim for her own rape, that we know of, so bygones and water under the bridge, let's celebrate his illustrious career, huzzah.

[ Missoulian ]