Marcia Silva was a Republican and a family court judge who refused to allow a teen rapist be tried as an adult because she believed the twelve-year-old victim wasn’t seriously harmed other than losing her virginity, which the judge decided wasn’t particularly serious even though the girl was left bleeding.
“Silva wrote in her August 2018 ruling, “…the victim did not suffer any physical or emotional injuries as a result, other than the ramifications of losing her virginity, which the court does not find to be especially serious harm in this case.”
The Appellate Court reversed her decision. She survived a complaint but was not re-appointed at the end of her term. This was a small scandal as it is normal to re-appoint judges after the initial seven-year-term for a life-tenure position. She was a Republican appointed by Rep. Gov. Chris Christie and was not re-appointed by Democratic Gov. Murphy. Some perceived this as partisan though Murphy cited her appalling remarks about rape not being particularly harmful.
- News12: Judge faces backlash for saying 12-year-old rape victim didn’t suffer
- NJNews: NJ judge is scolded but not punished for downplaying girl’s rape.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Tuesday, July 09, 2019