Silicon Valley voters will be able to decide in June whether to recall a judge criticized for his handling of the case of a former Stanford University swimmer convicted of sexual assault, officials announced Tuesday.
The Santa Clara County registrar of voters said enough of the valid signatures of registered voters had been collected to place the recall of Judge Aaron Persky on the June 5 ballot. The recall campaign submitted 94,539 signatures, and 58,634 are needed to make it onto the ballot.
Recall leaders began seeking to oust Persky after he sentenced Brock Turner to six months in jail. A jury convicted Turner of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a trash bin after an on-campus party.
Persky cited Turner's previously spotless criminal record and adopted the recommendation of the county's probation office. Turner is also required to register as a sex offender for life.
Persky's critics argue the sentence was too light. Turner was released from jail after serving three months with credit for good behavior.