The embattled judge who sentenced Brock Turner to just 6 months in jail won't be hearing any more criminal cases

FILE - This June 27, 2011 file photo shows Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, who drew criticism for sentencing former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to only six months in jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. The California judge has recused himself from making his first key decision in another sex case. The Mercury News reported Monday, Aug. 22, 2016 that Persky filed a statement saying that some people might doubt that he could be impartial. The judge is the target of a recall campaign after he sentenced a former Stanford swimmer to six months in jail for sexually assaulting an intoxicated woman. (Jason Doiy/The Recorder via AP, File)

http://syndication.ap.org/AP.Distro.ContentBroker2/ContentBroker.aspx?contentid=baf3fc7ac63146bb9aea4b4891b7709f&iid=36922e3bd4944ed398c65825ad81fef6&rsn=0&recordid=36922e3bd4944ed398c65825ad81fef6&filingId=c097457fd0074f6d90aecf489e1d362b&role=Preview&reldt=2016-08-23T20:47:54&media=Photo&sz=40473&dest=ak&trF=CASFR501&ofn=Ex-Stanford%2bSwimmer-Rape-Judge.JPEG&fmt=jpg&relativeUrl=jpg/2016/201608/23/baf3fc7ac63146bb9aea4b4891b7709f.jpg&s3Key=versions/preview-v00.jpg&authToken=eNotizEOwyAMAF8EMjgQGJD6FUxA8tAQhaB28OPL0OWWu5P6TR49BEBrMAKAxWClcKLcsJU9q%2bLRqM0TqZhrVhttIRrad4hNOh9rB4cyRyr9fG6m%2bfR7vGgOPutYGHzUW5f%2blskrNuBRrk%2f6C%2bNA%2bErOaq%2btsTq4H%2bSILjA%3d

PALO ALTO, Calif. (AP) — A California court said Thursday that a judge who was criticized for ordering a lenient six-month jail sentence in a rape case against a former Stanford University swimmer will no longer hear criminal matters by his own request.

Santa Clara County Presiding Judge Rise Pichon said she has granted the request of Judge Aaron Persky.

"While I firmly believe in Judge Persky's ability to serve in his current assignment, he has requested to be assigned to the civil division, in which he previously served," Pichon said in a statement. "Judge Persky believes the change will aid the public and the court by reducing the distractions that threaten to interfere with his ability to effectively discharge the duties of his current criminal assignment."

The move is not necessarily permanent. The assignment is subject to an annual review and takes effect Sept. 6.

Persky ordered the six-month sentence for Brock Turner, a Dayton, Ohio, resident who had been attending Stanford on a swimming scholarship.

Authorities say Turner sexually assaulted the girl while she was passed out near a trash bin.

The case sparked a national debate on college drinking and sexual assault and led to a recall effort against the judge.

Activists hold signs calling for the removal of Judge Aaron Persky from the bench after his controversial sentencing in the Stanford rape case, in San Francisco, California, U.S. June 10, 2016. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

http://syndication.ap.org/AP.Distro.ContentBroker2/ContentBroker.aspx?contentid=baf3fc7ac63146bb9aea4b4891b7709f&iid=36922e3bd4944ed398c65825ad81fef6&rsn=0&recordid=36922e3bd4944ed398c65825ad81fef6&filingId=c097457fd0074f6d90aecf489e1d362b&role=Preview&reldt=2016-08-23T20:47:54&media=Photo&sz=40473&dest=ak&trF=CASFR501&ofn=Ex-Stanford%2bSwimmer-Rape-Judge.JPEG&fmt=jpg&relativeUrl=jpg/2016/201608/23/baf3fc7ac63146bb9aea4b4891b7709f.jpg&s3Key=versions/preview-v00.jpg&authToken=eNotizEOwyAMAF8EMjgQGJD6FUxA8tAQhaB28OPL0OWWu5P6TR49BEBrMAKAxWClcKLcsJU9q%2bLRqM0TqZhrVhttIRrad4hNOh9rB4cyRyr9fG6m%2bfR7vGgOPutYGHzUW5f%2blskrNuBRrk%2f6C%2bNA%2bErOaq%2btsTq4H%2bSILjA%3d

Michelle Dauber, the Stanford law professor behind the recall effort, said that while the move from Persky is welcome, the recall attempt will continue, in part because Persky "can still transfer back to hearing criminal cases any time he chooses."

"The issue of his judicial bias in favor of privileged defendants in sex crimes and domestic violence still needs to be addressed by the voters of Santa Clara County," Dauber said in an email. "In our opinion, Judge Persky is biased and should not be on the bench."

See Also:

• Experts are poking holes in Stanford's new ban on hard alcohol

• Stanford just banned mixed drinks and shots from on-campus parties

• Prince likely obtained deadly drug illegally and someone could be charged with murder