HELENA, Mont. (AP) - The Montana Supreme Court has publicly reprimanded a Billings judge over his comments about a 14-year-old rape victim.
District Judge G. Todd Baugh appeared Tuesday afternoon for censure, which is a public declaration that he is guilty of misconduct. The Supreme Court had also suspended Baugh for 31 days.
Chief Justice Mike McGrath told Baugh that his actions and comments eroded the public's confidence in the court system.
Baugh was not asked to speak and declined to answer a reporter's questions.
Baugh sentenced Stacey Dean Rambold to 31 days in prison last year after Rambold pleaded guilty to sexual intercourse without consent.
Baugh said during Rambold's sentencing that the teenager was "probably as much in control of the situation as the defendant" and she "appeared older than her chronological age."
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7/22/2014 3:22:43 PM (GMT -4:00)
