Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) is calling for the resignation of Monmouth County Superior Court Judge James Troiano, who recently ruled that a 16-year-old rape survivor was not truly raped since she was not held at gunpoint. Judge Troiano also reportedly urged the survivor to consider that her attacker came from a “good family” before “ruining his life” with assault charges.

“Judge Troiano’s comments are truly abhorrent and clearly highlight the fact that he needs to be removed immediately by the Supreme Court,” O’Scanlon said. “We simply cannot stand by and allow a sitting judge to tell a 16-year-old sexual assault survivor that she doesn’t deserve justice because her attacker might get into a ‘good college.’”

“The Supreme Court has the ability to remove a judge for misconduct in office, or conduct evidencing unfitness for judicial office. Judge Troiano’s disturbing and biased comments from the bench are a glaringly obvious display of his unfitness for judicial office.”