A New Jersey Judge resigned on Wednesday following the fallout over comments he made back in 2018, saying that a 16-year-old boy should receive leniency because he came from a “good family” and got good grades.
According to CNN, Monmouth County Superior Court Judge James Troiano’s comments came up as he denied to try the boy as an adult after he was accused of raping an intoxicated 16-year-old girl.
Troiano argued that the boy’s action was not predatory—an accusation launched by prosecutors—and that the incident was not necessarily rape because in “traditional” rape cases there are “two or more generally males involved, either at gunpoint or weapon, clearly manhandling a person.”
The Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court knocked down Troiano’s ruling in June and sent it back for further judgment, arguing that the judge “erred in denying the waiver motion because, in the process, he substituted his judgment for that of the prosecutor.”
Troiano’s remarks drew swift backlash and calls for his resignation. He and his family have also gotten death threats, the report notes.
As Troiano’s resignation was announced, Gov. Phil Murphy noted that he was “gratified that Judge Troiano will no longer sit on the bench.”
A new training initiative for judges in New Jersey has been announced, targeting the “enhancement of existing training for judges in the areas of sexual assault, domestic violence, implicit bias, and diversity.”
The new initiative mandates a three-day training conference, as well as a refresher course every year.
As for the boy in the case, Monmouth County prosecutors are looking into their next steps, which could include indicting the boy in criminal court, thanks to the appeal.
“While we have the utmost respect for the Family Court and the judge in this case, we are grateful that the Appellate Division agreed with our assessment that this case met the legal standards for waiver to Superior Court,” Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said in a statement. “As with all cases, we are assessing our next steps, which will include discussions with the victim and her family.”