Judge Admits Breaking Ethics Code

Montana District Judge G. Todd Baugh reads a statement in his Billings courtroom in September, explaining his 30-day sentence for a teacher who raped a student. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)

A Montana judge under fire for commenting that a 14-year-old student rape victim appeared “older than her chronological age” said Tuesday that he deserves to be censured but not removed from the bench for the remarks. District Judge G. Todd Baugh told The Associated Press the comments violated judicial ethics rules by failing to promote public confidence in the courts. But he repeated his prior assertions that his comments did not factor into the 30-day sentence he handed down in the case, and said he has no plans to resign. “I shouldn’t have said that … I don’t contest that appearance of impropriety,” he said during an interview in his Billings office. “I don’t think it’s appropriate to be removed”/ Associated Press . More here.

Question: Censure or removal?