A New Jersey judge who told a woman who said she was raped that she could "close your legs" to prevent such an assault is "remorseful," a lawyer for the judge told a state disciplinary committee Tuesday.
Superior Court Judge John Russo Jr. of the family court division in Ocean County did not say anything during his hearing before the state Supreme Court, but his lawyer, Amelia Carolla, said the judge had "learned his lesson" and "will not do this again," The Associated Press reported.
Russo was presiding over a 2016 case in which a woman was seeking a restraining order against a man who allegedly raped her when he made the comments.
"Do you know how to stop somebody from having intercourse with you," Russo asked the woman, according to the state's judicial conduct complaint.
She supplied some answers like "tell them to stop," and Russo continued to urge: "What else?"
"Block your body parts," Russo supplied. "Close your legs? Call the police? Did you do any of those things?"
Hmmm... if the judge were in a dark parking garage getting into his Land Rover SUV or whatever he drives, and some big burly guy comes up and puts a knife to his throat and demands the judge's wallet and car keys, what sorts of things could the judge do to keep from getting robbed?
Ummmm... tell the attacker to stop?
Keep your keys in one hand and hold your other hand over your wallet?
