Impeach Judge Jan R. Jurden
Impeach Judge Jan R. Jurden
The Issue
On March 31, 2014, Judge Jan R. Jurden of the Superior Court of Delaware sentenced Robert H. Richards IV, a man convicted of raping his three-year-old daughter, to probation instead of jailtime. She justified this by saying that "[Richards] would not fair well in prison."
Richards is the great-grandson of Irenee DuPont, the Delaware chemical company. He has admitted to sexual abuse of his infant son and three-year-old daughter by inserting his fingers in her while masturbating. The girl told her grandmother about the abuse, saying that "it was our little secret," but "she didn't want [her] daddy touching her anymore."
Richards was brought to court on two counts of second-degree rape, each which carry a mandatory ten-year jail sentence. His plea deal removed all jail time.
Defense attorneys often say that a defendant may be "too frail" for prison, but Richards stands at 6'4" tall, weighs between 250-275 pounds, and has no record of serious physical illness. Prison is not "easy" on anyone; it is meant to be a punishment.
Convicted sex offenders (especially child sex offenders) are jailed in order to protect their victims, both past and present. It is clear that Judge Jurden has other motivations in mind, and no longer has the integrity to sit on the Delaware Superior Court.
It requires a majority vote in the Delaware House and a 2/3 majority vote in the Delaware Senate to impeach a state judge.
If we can't keep Robert Richards off the street, perhaps we can keep this judge from protecting any other child molestors.
The Issue
On March 31, 2014, Judge Jan R. Jurden of the Superior Court of Delaware sentenced Robert H. Richards IV, a man convicted of raping his three-year-old daughter, to probation instead of jailtime. She justified this by saying that "[Richards] would not fair well in prison."
Richards is the great-grandson of Irenee DuPont, the Delaware chemical company. He has admitted to sexual abuse of his infant son and three-year-old daughter by inserting his fingers in her while masturbating. The girl told her grandmother about the abuse, saying that "it was our little secret," but "she didn't want [her] daddy touching her anymore."
Richards was brought to court on two counts of second-degree rape, each which carry a mandatory ten-year jail sentence. His plea deal removed all jail time.
Defense attorneys often say that a defendant may be "too frail" for prison, but Richards stands at 6'4" tall, weighs between 250-275 pounds, and has no record of serious physical illness. Prison is not "easy" on anyone; it is meant to be a punishment.
Convicted sex offenders (especially child sex offenders) are jailed in order to protect their victims, both past and present. It is clear that Judge Jurden has other motivations in mind, and no longer has the integrity to sit on the Delaware Superior Court.
It requires a majority vote in the Delaware House and a 2/3 majority vote in the Delaware Senate to impeach a state judge.
If we can't keep Robert Richards off the street, perhaps we can keep this judge from protecting any other child molestors.
Petition Closed
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Petition created on March 31, 2014