Victim-Shaming Montana Judge Set To Retire

Remember the Montana judge who declared that a 14-year-old rape victim was "as much in control of the situation' as her rapist?" Well, Judge Todd Baugh is now set to retire at the end of this year — whoop-de-whoop, justice system — but Baugh has made clear that the decision had nothing to do with the case, nor his presence in the many, many angry headlines thereafter.

Baugh drew widespread condemnation for sentencing a rapist, teacher Stacey Rambold, to just 30 days in prison for the rape of Rambold's 14-year old student. When he handed down the sentence, Baugh added that the 14-year-old girl was "older than her chronological age" and "as much in control of the situation" as the teacher. The victim committed suicide before trial.

Baugh has made numerous attempts to apologize for his initial handling of the trial, and tried unsuccessfully to hand down a stricter sentence. Regardless, his critics have waged a campaign to have the Judicial Standards Commission remove Baugh from his position.

"We believe that no matter what happens, we have a huge victory with just him not running again," said Marian Bradley, a member of The National Organization for Women Montana chapter.

In an interview with KTVQ, Baugh said: “If the Rambold thing was the only factor, I wouldn’t retire for that... I’m 72 years old, I guess I can retire.”

Meanwhile, Rambold has served his sentence and is free — at least until the Montana Attorney General's Office files for an appeal. The Attorney General argues that Rambold should serve at least a four-year prison term.

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