A collective failure because of greed?
7
As I watched the sentencing this afternoon, there was a sinister feel from Annmarie, something a little off putting...
6
Nassar got what he deserved. But the theatrics of the judge lead me to believe she is planning on running for political office. She coached her daughters soccer team. What on earth did that have to do with anything?
9
Very proud of Judge Aquilina. She has made huge contribution to this issue of sexual abuse and has increased my faith in the judicial system. Also speech by the MI attorney General before the sentencing was very powerful.
10
This is happening because MSU looked the other way. President (since 2003) Lou Anna Simon had to have heard accusations. She is complicit.
Look at how Penn State treated sexual abuse of male children abused by Sandusky. The difference is MONEY. Penn State protected their football program. MSU, also a Big Ten School, does not value this because it does not involve the big money maker Football Program. Gymnastics is nothing. Not a big money maker. And it is about girls!!!
Simon will not be fired by the Trustees because the Holy Grail of the football program is not involved. Victims are female children and therefore disposable.
Is this rural China, India, Pakistan or Saudi Arabia..., or is this the USA? M-m-m. Ask Nassar’s victims...
8
MSU and the US Olympics is similarly guilty of enabling Nassar's assault. They need to be held accountable as well.
7
God bless Judge Aqualina.
15
This judge is a SHERO.
8
This is not a judge's job, nor it is necessary since that monster's sentence is assured. As much as he deserves to rot in Hell, this comes across as little more than grandstanding.
12
When an underage girl is in the room with a dr, there should be a nurse in the room as well.
16
Being compelled to listen to the survivor's statements in court is not enough. Their statements should be plastered to the walls of his tiny cell for him to see every single day of the rest of his life.
15
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina has just become the most powerful argument for why Trump's judicial nominees (91% white, 81% male) are absolutely distressing. She let them all speak their mind and, therefore, accelerated their healing. We need more judges like her.
32
Let me just say I applaud what Judge Aquitaine has done - which is to provide an opportunity for as many actual victims of Nassar to speak versus the specific victims of the specific counts he pled guilty to (88?). Little attention was devoted in the story to the distance travelled and other inconveniences many of these young women had to put up and endure to have their voices heard. What we don't know is how many more victims there were who for multiple reasons may not have chosen to speak up.
It's my understanding that these girls (at the time) were under Nassar's care only because the training site for higher level women's gymnastics was conducted at MSU - very few of these girls were there for any length of time, so whatever molestation Nassar was guilty of (as compared to what he was charged with) took place in an environment of fairly limited opportunity. In that sense the woman's gymnastics organization and MSU bear a significant amount of liability and blame for not exercising anything close to a reasonable standard of care in allowing this to occur over a lot of years.
8
The guy is disgusting but it's a kangaroo court. An awful negative advert for the impartiality of the US justice system. The role of a court is to judge guilt not inflict punishment nor console victims however horrible the case.
7
Typical male uninformed comment. Did you actually take the time to READ the article????
This was a sentencing hearing no jury present. Get a grip.
21
Incorrect. The trial is over and Nassar has pleaded guilty to his heinous crimes. This is sentencing. Impartiality is no longer required of the judge.
23
This should be a lesson of Justice-Making in the United States.
3
All the enablers need lose their positions and to do time. Period.
18
I'm so proud of these women for coming forward and standing strong! Thank you all for the good you are doing for the girls who, because of your actions, won't have to go through what you went through!
12
A courtroom is not a theater. Nasser pleaded guilty to seven charges of sexual assault. The case should be disposed of on the basis of evidence. Hearing 150 impact statements from persons in respect of whom no charges were laid and findings made, by plea or otherwise, turns this exercise into a circus where the perpetrator is pilloried, not tried.
Of course the victims should have their day and their say. There are civil courts for this purpose. There are congressional hearings. There are podiums, pulpits and press across the land. There are demonstrations and hashtags and boycotts. There must be a space for these young women to come forward, to speak, and most important to be heard. A sentencing hearing in relation to crimes proven to have occurred against other persons is not that place. The prisoner is to be sentenced for the crimes he is proven to have committed, not for the impact of unproven (in court) crimes against others. Maybe 150 charges should have been laid, but they weren't.
With all due respect to the Judge, she has lost control of the process over which she is supposed to be presiding.
30
He was tried already. That part is over. If this proceeding will help to any extent his victims, the judge has the authority to allow it.
13
He is not being sentenced but for the crimes he has pled guilty to. His background, character, and previous life and acts are investigated and reported as part of the sentencing process. His many other victims are character witnesses of a kind, and their voices belong in any consideration of his just desserts.
11
From a retired U.S. attorney and as noted in the article: this is the sentencing phase where victim impact statements are included. A judge has complete discretion to do what he/she decides is warranted. I suspect this judge also is setting up her court record to support the civil lawsuits (possibly criminal) against legions of high-level MSU and other so-called sports "leadership."
Brava!
23
My God.
I /we/all of us..are in a state of shock in my humble home. I do not have Olympic hopefuls in my house, rather we have a houseful of local athletes one of which did compete at the state level.. I am in tears, reading this account with my now 24 year old son, ex captain of his swim team, state champion swimmer and now..and R.N.
I asked my son, as a professional medical person, not as the kid, what he thought. He said "your beloved women gymnastics is tainted dad.." He told me "it is forever and it will never go away."
I am ready to say that it is because of this, because of that. I wish I could allocate some kind of blame, but that helps no-one. Calling for public punishment of this monster does nothing either. I explained to my child, my young man, my nurse..that what we here in America and the rest of the world need to understand is this. Many of the traditions, the respect we have had for institutions, the trust we all put into the organizations we have come to count on, is false.
The fault, the blame and the job of "fixing" of these monstrosities, the killing of these giants and the usurping of these "trusted" institutions falls on us, the people.
Period.
The lame president of Michigan U, the Doc, all these things add up no doubt.
But the real blame lies on all of us. When we trust anything, anyone, even our God's..more than our children.
We all lose.
How can Trump address this?
How can the Republicans who tried to seat Moore in Alabama even speak on this?
How?
10
Whoa, Jon....this happened at Michigan STATE U, not U of M. Let’s be sure where this happened.
However our culture protects BIG TEN football programs. FOOTBALL. Not gymnastics. Not tennis. Not wrestling. And definitely not female child victims.
It is about money in NCAA programs. Money. Not vulnerable children.
The Trustees of MSU refuse to fire Lou Anna Simon——who is also a big mucky-muck with the NCAA.
Nothing will happen to Simon or others who were complicit. Nothing. Keep that money coming into their football program. That is their priority. Period.
Parents, keep your perspective about your young athletes
because doctors and university presidents do not care if it isn’t about money or football.
6
Thank you judge for letting these women tell their stories. Thank you for the harsh sentence. Men who have abused women, boys and girls should be shaking with fear. Truth is truth.
13
This isn't over. All the enablers need to lose their positions and do time alongside Nassar. Period.
16
when I was about 11 I went to an Endocronoligist in the city. This was around 1968. My mother told him not to do an internal exam. He told me in the exam room to have the exam would be for my benefit. I was a minor. There was no nurse or any observer in the room. I was essentially deflowered. I remember there was some blood on the sheet. I asked him what it was. He studied it for a brief minute and said it was nothing. I wish I knew his name and could at least out him. Thank you Brave Ladies for coming forward and standing up for yourselves and all who were abused. We need a voice and yours was so eloquent
15
Judge Aquilina--a new American hero!
We are often told that the media can't report "good news" stories because they are boring and no one would read them. This article shows that "good news" stories can be great, fascinating and even inspiring. And as the many comments already made show, they can and will be read with great enthusiasm. We need more judges like Judge Aquilina and more stories in the NYTimes like this one!!
15
Yes!!!
5
“Leave your pain here,” Judge Aquilina told one young woman, “and go out and do your magnificent things.”
Why does Judge Aquilina think that a victim of sexual abuse can "leave their pain" in the courtroom by giving a witness statement? The idea that giving a victim statement will help the victims is a very widely held assumption, that to my knowledge has very little empirical evidence behind it beyond the anecdotal.
I can say, based on 35 years of experience as a lawyer, that what does bring psychological relief to injured parties in a lawsuit of any variety is simply for the case to end. Only then is a big source of the victim's distress--the court proceedings themselves--eliminated.
Unfortunately, the court proceedings are hardly over in Nassar's case. Nassar himself will surely appeal; he has nothing to lose by doing so. Furthermore, anyone suing Michigan State University or other deep pocket alleged contributors to Nassar's crimes will wait years for that process to conclude, with uncertain results.
While Judge Aquilina has the best intentions in urging victims to "leave your pain" in the courtroom so they can move on, she is making a promise that the court system very likely cannot keep. The legal system cannot do much to "bring closure" to the victims of crime. The most it can do is to bring cases to a speedy conclusion so the victims can move on and do the hard but essential work of finding closure on their own.
19
He can't appeal the verdict; his plea of "Guilty" eliminates that possibility.
He can try to appeal the sentence, but he won't win.
4
So four or five more days in this particular court to attempt to give some relief to hundreds of victims isn't a good thing? Giving the victims A CHANCE to "leave their pain" isn't justified? Couldn't this be the beginning of letting them "move on" (your words)? And making this monster of a human being sit through the victims' statements is a good start to his effective death sentence. I suggest you've been a lawyer a little too long, and reading your sentiments, I hope you never get the chance to sit on the bench.
8
Try thinking less literally. I can say, based on 50 years of experience as a female, that it helps. I'm pretty sure the judge is not deluding herself. She's showing empathy and doing what she can. The victims want to speak, and finally people are listening. Who are we to tell them it won't help?
10
I am having trouble With the judge's behavior. In the service of justice, she is supposed to be impartial, not a cheerleader for one side. This trial is degenerating into a witch hunt.
My question is, where were the parents and coaches while all this was going on. Why couldn't the girls say something to them, and why was nothing done at the time.
9
How many people are going to complain without either reading the article or understanding the situation? This must be some kind of record.
4
It was a sentencing hearing, not a trial. He was already convicted on child pornography charges and pleaded guilty to sexual assault. If he hadn’t assaulted so many people, there wouldn’t have been so many victim statements. I applaud the judge and as a lawyer myself, I find her to an inspiring model of doing her job with compassion. It would have been a whole lot easier and faster for her to just sentence Nassar without hearing the victim statements and instead she allowed these women to be heard. Bravo Judge Aquilina. Thank you for using your power for good.
6
It is not a trial, it is a sentencing hearing. The trial is over. Read the story.
4
I have so much respect for Judge Aquilina for letting EACH victim make their statement. I also respect each of the women that spoke.
I used the word "victim" and that was a mistake - they are survivors, they are HEROS and rolemodes for other young women who should stand up for who they are!!
14
That people were in positions of power and chose to ignore the ugliness and pain inflicted on innocent young women is the biggest sin.
It's always the cover up that is the bigger crime. That's because the powerful did nothing when confronted with evil and did nothing to stop it. Worse still, it now includes women who participated in the cover up of these outrageous assaults for what? For the glory of the University they work for?
Disgusting! Simon and Klages deserve to be fired and perhaps brought up charges for assisting in the crimes by covering them up!
13
SBS, I have to disagree with your assessment that the coverup is the bigger crime, BUT absolutely agree that the magnitude of the ongoing coverup is despicable enough to warrant equally harsh punishment.
Judge Aquilina, you, too, are a hero in all of this, not only because you are allowing a flood of justice for the women whose lives this so-called doctor are irreparably altered. You are a hero because your justice is real and represents who you are; it's not something you dredged up for appearance or publicity.
I hope your colleagues -- from the newest appointed judge to the Supreme Court -- recognize you as a role model for all of them. Thank you from all of us who understand, intimately understand, what the women you've give an opportunity to talk have been through.
7
I advocate for the victim statements from anybody who steps forward against any Defendant. They should all be televised in their entirety. First up, those responsible for the 1993 bombings and 9/11. Now that would be justice since people were directly killed leaving widows and orphans.
If that is not allowed, then no victim statements, treat everyone equally.
2
I have so much respect for Judge Aquilina for letting EACH victim give their statement.
I used the word “victim” and that was a mistake. Each of those young women deserve every one's respect they are HEROES and they are role models, and they were so strong to give their story.
8
“Leave your pain here,” Judge Aquilina told one young woman, “and go out and do your magnificent things.”
This is the kind of wisdom women bring to the table.
That's why women need to be at the table...in all arenas of society. What we bring is of great value.
Imagine a society in which both men and women's expertise, experience, and wisdom is represented at every table...time for us to work in partnership with one another across gender lines.
161
More Women need to be in the House AND Senate.
Women are patient people we don't jump to conclusions we are rational unlike our counterparts.
5
From all I've read about Nassar, his actions are despicable and criminal, and I hope that the ultimately punishment meted to him amply reflects that.
That having been said, permitting numerous witnesses to provide material testimony is one thing, but if the judge is really acting as an "advocate" in this matter, as this article repeatedly suggests, then she is outside the specific and limited role entrusted to her under our system of government. Lawyers are "advocates," not judges. And that is no less true just because we: (1) agree with her advocacy, (2) believe the cause is righteous, and (3) think the defendant is despicable.
4
So who are your criticizing here? The writer for the use of the word "advocate", or the judge? What is your point? In a strictly legal sense, the judge is well within her survey to allow victim impact statements and to thenk them for their insights and time. What is your point here?
14
The point is that she still has not sentenced him and has made it clear that she is not being fair and impartial when she makes these statements after the victims have spoken, implicating that her sentence will not be based on the evidence but rather her feelings towards Nassar and the women who spoke. It also bears pointing out that the majority of the women speaking at the sentencing were not named victims, charges with their names were not even brought against him. However we feel about Nassar, there's the argument to be made that this is not an appropriate forum for these women to speak because they were not victims under the law and the purpose of victim impact statements is give an outlet for named victims in a case.
1
Did you read the article? What the judge did is completely within her role.
Stephen Gillers, a professor of law at New York University, said that although judges are often thought of as unbiased and impartial, it is important to remember that this is a sentencing hearing, not a trial. Dr. Nassar, who has already received a 60-year federal sentence for a child pornography conviction, pleaded guilty to several state sexual assault charges and will be sentenced after the “victim impact statements” are finished.
“At a sentencing, a judge can say and is encouraged to say just what she thinks,” Mr. Gillers said in a telephone interview. “What’s unusual here is that the number of victims who are willing to speak has given the judge more than 100 opportunities to do that.”
4
I am an alumni of Michigan State and a donor to a scholarship program there. It shames me that the university was complicit in what happens and still stands by the president although she knew what was happening. She and anyone else that remained silent not only needs to resign immediately, but should perhaps face criminal charges. Although I hate to not help needy students with scholarships, I don't plan to send the school another penny until they do something about this. My donation isn't much but I'm sure that many alumni feel the same way. I wonder when they will realize that for the sake of the sake of the school's reputation and the justice of the victims, their refusal to acknowledge the complicity of the school and to do something about it is indefensible.
21
Wow the young woman who just testified - she was one of the first who reported him to police to set his downfall in motion - she was amazing! If the President of MSU is watching she will now walk outside to a microphone and resign.
12
One wonders at differences in how the Sandusky scandal was received, including the indictiment of not just the football program and senior administrators, but of the entire university - students, faculty, staff, and supporters - for what was viewed, rightly and wrongly, as a corrupt and depraved culture around football. Is this not being treated similarly because it is "just gymnastics"? Because Sandusky was preying on boys rather than girls which for many makes it more sensational, salacious, or somehow more tragic? Where is the condemnation and shame? Where is the Freeh report? Where is the constant, gleeful news coverage? Judge Aquilina has it right in giving space to the stories of these young women.
14
Give it time, gmb, and don't look around too widely with your whataboutism.
An international sport like gymnastics doesn't have the cloying insularity of an individual college sports program, you know?
Wish Judge Aquilina could adjudicate President Trump and subject him to her straight talk.
21
Does Nassar have to remain in the court room to hear the victim statements? Does he have a right not to be there?
He's a sick man. A sociopath. I can't imagine him hearing anything but his own demons.
1
Then let him hear his own demons. I have no sympathy for him.
3
I applaud Judge Aquilina. I expect liberals and conservatives can come together on this one. No punishment for Nassar could be too severe. I presume he's forfeiting all his financial assets to a victim's fund. Still not enough.
We should also be having trials for Nassar's enablers, those who ignored the many reports of abuse. We need to have some real accountability or this will happen again.
43
What better justice than disciplining the offender to listen to the voices and feelings of his victims. To some of the pain, suffering and confusion, he is responsible for. To hear voices he has never heard or cared about in his life. Though he no doubt is resisting them, he will have a long time to experience the reverberations in his incarceration.
26
You are assuming that he is not enjoying listening to that pain. He might just be sadistic enough, psychotic enough, that this troubles him not in the least.
I like this judge......kudos to her!!!
23
This seriously made me tear up. Such strength and kindness, giving these women a chance to tell their stories.
30
For those of us who are appalled, disgusted, and furious from afar, please step up and call your elected officials if you haven't already. The effort of these women and their families at the sentencing hearing and beyond has been heroic. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina should be commended for her efforts to validate and support them. Thank you NYT for continuing to cover this. More investigation into other individuals and organizations who were complicit is necessary. I have been mystified by why so few elected officials have immediately come forward with their positions, insisting on investigations in to enablers, holding individuals, MSU, USAGymnastics, USOC accountable. Great to hear today the NCAA is stepping up. I called most of my representatives yesterday, checked their websites and heard and saw nothing. Senator Gillibrand's office representative recommended I reach out to others recommending they call as well. So here it is: These women especially, and all current and future athletes wanting to experience sports safely and joyfully, deserve all of our support at so many levels. In recognition of these amazing women and families we can provide some support by making a phone call.
32
Calls here at MSU are for pres. Simon to step down. We find it despicable that she is prioritizing her "legacy" over doing the right thing.
7
The next question to ask is "how did this psychopath ever get through medical school and Residency without being identified as a guy who brushed up against, or crossed, boundaries." I'd like to know if any odd or suspicious behaviors were swept under the carpet and ignored. This travesty of behavior did not start when he had access to young female athletes through his jobs with USA Gymnastics or MSU. What is behind all this?
17
This perverted child molester deserves really hard prison time. Only problem is he is in the custody of the US Attorney General because his federal conviction came before his state conviction. He is in state court by virtue of a Writ of Habeas Corpus ad pros (on loan to the state). He will serve his 60 year federal sentence at "Club Fed" first, then if he is still alive, be transferred to start serving real hard time in a state prison. It is shame he can't serve his state sentence (hard time) first and let the US Attorney General (through the US Marshals Service) file a detainer with the state prison system.
10
I have only seen the highlights on the news (admittedly select and probably not representative), but it seems to me that she is far from an impartial arbiter of truth and justice. Surely, that is not her role (or the role of any judge). And, while I do understand the cathartic value of victim impact statements, the state is not or should not be in the business of comeuppance served by the victims. Nasser has been found guilty - sentence him to a just punishment and end it; the courts are not for pilloring of the accused or the guilty - at least not in the 21st century . . .
8
He has pled guilty. Victim impact statements are included as part of sentencing, and she is directed to consider them in her sentence.
None of that indicates that she is less than impartial.
16
He's already been found guilty. The only question now is the proper sentence. You seem to think that hearing the victims speak is some sort of cruel and unusual punishment? I find your comment remarkable.
20
Under MCL 780.765, "The victim has the right to appear and make an oral impact statement at the sentencing of the defendant. If the victim is physically or emotionally unable to make the oral impact statement, the victim may designate any other person 18 years of age or older who is neither the defendant nor incarcerated to make the statement on his or her behalf. The other person need not be an attorney." There is no provision like, "if there are more than 5 victims, only the first five may make victim impact statements at the sentencing." Each one has a right, under Michigan law, to make a statement. You're welcome, PS, to lobby the Michigan legislature to change the statute, but until them, it's not a question of whether Nassar is being pilloried or being served a comeuppance.
23
Nassar will get what's coming to him, the right to die in jail, but there are at least two others, Lou Anna Simon and Kathie Klages, who need to be brought up on criminal charges. Simon, President of Michigan State, and Klages, the former gymnastics coach both knew about the abuse and made no effort to at the very least investigate. These two women looking to protect the university were complicit in the crimes Nassar committed and should pay a heavy price for their silence.
51
Nassar had enablers at USA Gymnastics. Why aren't they being prosecuted as well?
37
Michigan has a strong victim's rights law that plainly empowers victims to address the court during sentencing. The crime and punishment establishment didn't care for it (DAs and the like), but these proceedings vindicate allowing victims their voice.
Nassar victimized so many. It is these statements by his victims that powerfully and indelibly shows the scope and duration of his crimes. Now those who failed to stop this man when told of his acts are being called to account -- which never would have happened if he had been quickly sentenced and vanished into prison (as they may have hoped).
21
Law enforcement officials and prosecuting attorney offices actually do care for victims' rights in Michigan, Robert. Indeed, the prosecuting attorneys' offices in Michigan have crime victims' advocates on staff.
4
Robert: "The crime and punishment establishment didn't care for it (DAs and the like....)
I suspect you meant defense attorneys, not district attorneys. In any event, victims, families and others are able to share their stories AFTER a conviction. That may, in some cases, affect the severity of a sentence, but it in no way influences a conviction.
1
What about the adults at the USOC and elsewhere who heard the complaints against Dr Nasser and did nothing, as is alleged by some of the victims? They must be investigated and punished if the evidence shows they dragged their feet or did nothing to prevent this from happening over and over again.
20
I heard on NPR today that when one girl reported Nassar's depraved acts, that U.S. Gymnastics made her disbelieve herself by saying she didn't know what a medical exam was. This isn't far removed from The Handmaids' Tale. I hope the parents of the 160 + girls and the women sue U.S. Gymnastics, board members and Michigan State and are awarded so much money they never forget these girls. What was so great about Nassar that they chose to protect this monster?
46
I hope that the aftermath of this..lays Michigan State to waste. I am sorry to be so heartless..but..ok.
Wait a minute. I am NOT sorry. NOT SORRY AT ALL!
This is strictly to cover up for gold. Medals and money. I say..shut that university down for 4 years, maybe forever. Who cares of the consequences..
Show our nation, that kids are off limits..
In a nutshell Denise, they(M.S.U.) sold our children for..30 pieces of silver and some gold. For ratings..For donors.:(
More than that..they took the purest of dreams and corrupted them into evil.
I am not a God fearing man, but if I was, this would certainly qualify for Nassar et al..going straight to hell.
I will never allow a solo doctors visit ever again with anyone in my charge. Or police. Or clergy. Or..anyone.
1
I bet if Nassar says he voted for Trump, he'll get a pardon.
10
You go judge! A small ray of justice.
14
If these events involved a doctor in the rural South this story would how stupid white people are for not knowing what is sexual and child abuse. And their ignorance is all caused by their weird religious beliefs and that they watch Fox News. Instead the heroes are the victims and their parents who never went to police, county prosecutor, news media, FBI, sheriff, mayor, etc. for 20 years.
2
Victim blaming is an incredibly ugly response to the empowerment of young girls who were being manipulated by the doctor they were taught to respect.
22
Read the many articles on this subject. Several victims and their families DID report these abuses to people in authority. They were not believed, and no action was taken.
FYI, there are many good reasons why victims of sexual abuse often find it difficult to come forward, which should be clear to anyone with an ounce of understanding or empathy.
12
Oh stop it. Quit feeling so sorry for yourself and the slights you think are aimed at you because of your regional location. Try thinking about these girls, many of whom were just children when this happened.
3
The failures of Michigan State to address the many complaints it received rivals the Penn St. case that led to indictments of senior Penn St. officials, including the president, and cost the senior leadership their jobs. When will charges be brought against senior leadership at Michigan State and USA Gymnastics? And the president of Penn State should be fired immediately.
13
All of these female “victims” are extraordinary people. So are their parents. Apparently none of the hundreds and hundreds could either not understand what sexual abuse is or didn’t report it to any law enoforcement for decades. Bravo. I don’t know how they can sleep at night knowing because of their silence or ignorance, others became victims of this horrible person. I guess they sleep by blaming Michigan State University. As a criminal defense lawyer, I can assure you the prosecutors I know would prosecute him. That’s what they do. It’s the only thing they do, they prosecute people. And if they don’t, the good people of Michigan would elect a new prosecutor or Governor.
2
Why do you have “victims” in quotation marks? Nasser was found guilty in a court of law and yes, these women and girls are the victims of the crimes that he was found guilty of committing.
7
Your victim-blaming is completely unacceptable, and un-empathetic and outdated attitudes like yours are exactly what allows sexual abuse and assault to continue.
As a lawyer myself, I find it appalling that someone who claims to be a defense attorney has such a shocking lack of empathy and understanding of these issues.
6
He told them it was medical treatment. When they reported it, others told them it was medical treatment. Kathy Klage told everyone it was legitimate medical treatment even after he was arrested. One girl's father made her apologize to Nasser for telling lies about him. Many complaints were ignored by officials over the years. One investigation relied on a crony of Nasser's to confirm that his treatments were legitimate. Why don't you read the facts before blaming the victims.
5
Nassar, today, will be going away for the rest of his natural life. Now, the attention must turn to Michigan State University, U.S. Gymnastics, the Karolyi ranch and anybody or anything else that turned a blind eye and deaf ear to these young women.
This case deserves just as much — if not way more — scrutiny as the Penn State-Jerry Sandusky scandal did. Yet, I don’t seem to see the same level of coverage or the outrage at the institutional enabling. That has to change, otherwise nothing else will.
19
This judge represents the best example of American Main Street common- sense together with compassion, kindness and justice.
The internecine war in Washington DC is from a foreigner pathetic and dangerous to foreign policy.
The complexity of foreign policy is ultimately the subject of adjudication of your president with advice.
May I suggest that for reasons beyond my understanding your president has today removed the head of the Federal Reserve Bank.
The markets are currently euphoric but I wonder about their stability.
The free money mantra is reflected by the pain of increasing US debt.
It has to be repaid.
Interest rates may increase promptly.
If the president could actually lead devoid of baggage self inflicted the economy would be in a better space.
The alleged peccadilloes with a pornography actress would be directly addressed in the Westminster system during Parliamentary question time.
The Profumo Case is recorded.
The president seems to be above and unaccountable. Your elected representatives ring bells and a sniff of Royal privilege.
The Westminster system would allow a General Election, now.
The president, the senate and the house would face the voters.
Cutting finance to cripple government is arrogant and massively destructive.
Ms Aquilina, a public servant, reflects the best of what government can do.
May I suggest that while business rejects government intrusion, business should not intrude into government.
Court is the venue of justice.
4
We live thousands of miles away from the where the proceedings are taking place. But last night one of my twin daughters, sixteen and a half and a competitive rower, told me about a young female athlete's "tough and strong" attitude whilst testifying against "a doctor who sexually abused of her" and how the man did "tear up" at some point during the hearings. She expressed admiration for this woman and the score of girls testifying, as did her sister, a climber. The fact that they heard and read about these events, and discussed them informally with their peers at school, is extremely important and impactful. I laud these women myself, mother of athletes, ever watchful of my girls, and thank Judge Aquilina for giving them opportunity to realize that speaking out will make a difference. It is not a given.
23
Judges shouldn't be "advocates" of anything while they fulfill their duties as "judge."
They should remain neutral and dispassionate, even when dealing with the most horrendous situations.
5
The trial is over. She is allowing those victimized to say their piece during the victim impact phase.
11
You are absolutely right. During a trial, the judge must be neutral and dispassionate. But this is not a trial. Nassar pled guilty and there was no jury. This article refers to the sentencing phase, where victims have the option to make a statement to the courtroom and in particular speak directly to the guilty perpetrator. It is in this context that the judge is showing herself to be a strong advocate for the victims of Nassar's heinous crimes. It is entirely appropriate and should become the standard in cases such as this one.
10
That's not what the article is about. HOW she's proceeding is an issue.
It is so wonderful these young women have found their voice and a person, in this judge, who respects them.
This is for me one of the most moving stories of #MeToo.
17
The judge is a great example of why we need more women in positions of power and decision making. I hope SOMEONE in the Trump administration is paying attention, because this is why the judiciary is independent and why remaining so is critical to our democracy. It’s also part of the tsunami that’s building and will be landing on the GOP during the midterms.
17
This judge truly knows the definition of justice. She has given the victims their day in court by allowing them to begin the healing process with a catharsis. She is to be applauded and used as an example for others. Well done Judge Aquilina! The world is watching.
20
This is a result of the corporatization of sports in America. How can any parent let a child get so involved in this vacuous system? We have way too much Vince Lombardi and way too little Grantland Rice.
5
This is a headline you hope to never read, in a nation of laws.
A judge must be fiercely impartial. And NOTHING else. NOTHING.
Some people are saying this is "only" a sentencing. First, if I were being sentenced, it would matter to me, a lot. Sentencing is not a trivial after-thought. It is integral to justice.
Second, there is an ancient principle of Western jurisprudence: Not only must justice be done, it must appear to be done. If Judge Aquilina is so partial at sentencing, are you sure she was impartial at trial? I am not.
The sexual abuse of women is awful. The sexual abuse of girls is horrific. The corrosion of our justice system is worse than that. It is monstrous.
2
Inmate Nassar pled guilty in both of his trials. He is currently serving 60 years for the possession of child pornography. This sentencing hearing legally carries with it, I believe, a minimum of 40 years which will be served consecutively. In both cases, he pled guilty. Neither judge had to prove judicial impartiality as neither was required to determine guilt or innocence. He declared his own guilt. Sentencing guidelines offer a range of punishments to account for the severity of the crime, extenuating circumstances, etc. Our society requires that the more heinous of crimes receive the more dire sentences. Being able to determine guilt from innocence, according to evidence and the law does not preclude a person from being able to sympathize with victims or be horrified by the actions of a guilty prisoner when it comes time for sentencing. Inmate Nassar will be over 100 years old before he can even begin serving his sentence, making this sentencing both a legal precedent and largely symbolic. Allowing the victims to confront the guilty party provides a justice that has been denied to them by his previous plea.
19
Have you ever been present at a court sentencing? Judges step outside impartiality all the time to express their disgust at the behavior of the convicted. I once covered a murder trial after which the judge during sentencing called the convicted man to the courtroom window and said to him, "Do you see those acorns down there on the lawn? They will grow into mighty oaks by the time you get out of prison. Your crime disgusts me."
13
If you were being sentenced, what "mattered" to you would be irrelevant. You would be a convicted criminal and you'd listen to whatever disgust and revulsion the court chose to share with you.
I wonder if the fact that the judge is a woman plays any part in your vigorous, albeit incorrect, explanation of sentencing hearings?
5
Finally women and girls have a voice. It is about time. Well done your honor, well done.
12
If you have not heard it take a few minutes to listen to a segment of Tuesday's NPR program "Here and Now" where a 15 year old chooses to speak publicly of her abuse by Dr. Nassar, as well as the denials that it was merely a "medical treatment."
Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson spoke with Kate Wells (@KateLouiseWells), a reporter with Michigan Radio. Ms. Wells delicately sets up the story leading to a recording of 15-year-old Emma Ann Miller's powerful statement in court.
If you find it unbearable to hear you must acknowledge that living through it was, and forever will be, far worse.
http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/01/23/nassar-sentencing-michigan-state
63
This is a sentencing , NOT a trial -so the judge can say whatever she wants to...she is an example of using the power of the bench in the best way;
here is the article excerpt:
"Stephen Gillers, a professor of law at New York University, said that although judges are often thought of as unbiased and impartial, it is important to remember that this is a sentencing hearing, not a trial. Dr. Nassar, who has already received a 60-year federal sentence for a child pornography conviction, pleaded guilty to several state sexual assault charges and will be sentenced after the “victim impact statements” are finished." SENTENCING....that is the key here.
People ask how could folks not know. How do folks not know when their children are being molested by family members? Denial is a powerful response to dysfunction. In family systems there are decades of abuse patterns, those who have been abused often do not see it in their own children, or doubt their intuition, or disbelieve their children - dissociation is part of this too. Stop asking why folks didn't know. The times he was reported NO ONE believed the children reporting him.
Once again those in power colluded with the abuser ..even though they didn't "know". Remember Sandusky? People know they just don't want to believe children. This judge is the shining light these womin need, she is 180 degrees from the dark, sick, twisted, damaged person Nassar is.
64
"This is a sentencing , NOT a trial -so the judge can say whatever she wants to..."
No, she cannot. A judge cannot pre-determine a sentence, as Aquilina appears to have done. She cannot consider factors not permitted under the law. I have seen many sentences vacated because a judge injected her own biases into the sentencing, made inappropriate comments, or relied on improper aggravating factors.
Defendants have a right to be sentenced, as well as tried, before an unbiased judge.
3
Actually, with mandatory sentencing regulations, most of the sentence has already been determined. And it's a long one. Nasser will likely be dead before the discretionary component comes into play. At sentencing, the accused is guilty and therefore the judge is entitled to express a view of the convict's conduct. That is the "denunciation" part of sentencing. Further, the judge is supposed to compare the accused's crimes to those of others in determining the appropriate sentence. So it is the function of the judge to form a view of just how vile the behaviour was. Finally, victim impact statements are permitted by statute. I just don't see what the problem is here.
9
The judge did not pre-determine the defendant's sentence, Joan P. The Michigan Department of Corrections prepared a pre-sentence investigation report for the judge to review, which contains a sentence recommendation that is based on factual information concerning the defendant, the crime(s), victim impact statements and other pertinent background information, as well as a calculation of an appropriate sentence under the Michigan sentencing guidelines. The judge reviews the PSIR prior to the sentencing in court, and listens to argument by the prosecutor, argument by defense counsel, victim impact statements, and the defendant's statement, prior to making a final decision on the sentence.
7
Well done your honor...well done. I rarely shed tears at a news article, but did so upon reading of the justice you have partially served these past few days. May these young women find some sort of closure, and let others who would molest children consider themselves warned.
86
Thank you Judge Rosemarie Aquilina. Now I hope you'll consider agreeing to be a family court judge since it is considered one of the least desirable positions. There's a bill languishing before Congress, H.Con.Res.72, re safety first of children of divorce if abuse is alleged- introduced with #150 Sept. 6, 2016, tabled due to election, reintroduced July 24, 2017. Our Leadership Council on Domestic Violence & Other Interpersonal Issues has LONG reported that over 58,000 children yearly are court-ordered to live with or visit unsupervised with abusive parent. Credible evidence is ignored & many judges & lawyers get duped by Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hydes. Some get "influenced." The bill states when abuse is alleged an independent domestic violence expert must interview each person separately first -already required in England. The entire bill is constructive and compassionate, recognizing that many abusers were abused as children. In the "Spotlight" movie a defrocked priest said, "Yes, I fondled kids but I never hurt any since I didn't rape any since that was done to me as a child & I know how much that hurts." It has long been reported that many pedophiles are in the home, so consider those children are available for abuse 24/7, yet media, government, & organizations keep ignoring it & abuse by foster care. Nasser surely deserves jail. BUT shouldn't our focus be on prevention since kids tend to learn what they live? How kids turn out everywhere determines everything- how could it not?
12
I read that Michigan State was still sending bills for appointments with Nassar, but that they had now stopped. Every single "medical" bill the parents paid to this criminal going back to Day One should be refunded. Get out the records and and the calculator and start counting. Also, was Nassar an orthopedist? Because I can't think of any reason why these girls should have been seeing a doctor as often as they were. Shouldn't you have to have some kind of injury before you see a doctor? What were the grown-ups and organizers in this world thinking?
57
They did have injuries. Competitive gymnastics is very hard on the body. The parents felt lucky that this famous specialist-to-the-Olympians was treating their children.
2
Thank you Judge Aquilina. Thank you, all the women who had the courage to spoke and all the men and women who supported them. Thank goodness she did not allow him to curtail the statements and forcing this sick, disgusting excuse of a man - who managed to get through medical school without being flagged as a sociopath - to listen to what is probably a fraction of the women he has abused, used and treated like objects. More women as lawyers. More women as judges. More women in positions of power. The only way to make this stop, once and for all, is to have women where they can force the perpetrators to justice and take the accusations seriously. People are not objects.
50
"although judges are often thought of as unbiased and impartial, it is important to remember that this is a sentencing hearing, not a trial. Dr. Nassar . . . has already received a 60-year federal sentence for a child pornography conviction"
Nassar's punishment cannot be increased, since he already will be in jail for the rest of his life. So there is no ground for complaint about these hearings.
Accordingly, Judge Aquilina is free to allow a full and dramatic and cathartic picture of his vile crimes to be presented to the jury and the world. And that's obviously in the public interest.
36
Imagine a drunk driver hitting a school bus that goes over a cliff. Imagine a judge that encourades every family member of every child to vent his grief and anger. Surely, that is too much.
5
Bad analogy. Larry Nassar did not hit a bus and he was not drunk. He intentionally abused girls One by One. Not too much at all.
15
Michjas, If indeed that murderous tragedy did take place, then each and every family member has the right to speak. They will live a life time robbed of that child. Too bad for the drunk to sit and listen for however long it takes.
7
No that would be fine, as long as it happened at sentencing, after the defendant was found guilty. Victim impact statements are routine. Are you suggesting that someone should be spared them because he victimized many people?
7
Great way to get a sentence reversed, "judge," keep it up
3
He pleaded guilty.
9
Whether or not he plead guilty, a sentence imposed by a clearly biased judge can be vacated and remanded for re-sentencing.
1
As part of an appeal of a conviction. Do you think he wants to withdraw his plea?
A little legal knowledge is a dangerous thing.
2
What the judge is saying to the girls and women is that you are not powerless, and you are surrounded by people who care and who will take action. That is not insignificant. As they try to deal with a life in which their loss of innocence began with an act of abuse, forever seared into their memory, they will also have this: A powerful woman judge telling them they are okay, and will be okay. What I see with my teen children's generation is a clarified understanding of what's okay, and what's not, and sharper understanding of what to do if assaulted, due in no small part to the ongoing news from this and other #metoo stories.
49
The judge should be a referee, not the prosecutor and not a witness
7
It's a sentencing hearing - he has already been found guilty. She can do what she wants, and I, for one, thank her for it.
132
Read the article and educate yourself. This is the sentencing phase. He has already been adjudicated guilty. This is the moment when victims are supposed to give their statements.
42
Read the article and not the title.
38
Where are the specifics? One person accused 100 instances of abuse. Multiply this time the 140 accusers and you get 14000 separate abuse instances. Something is fishy here.
2
He wasn't just accused; he's already pleaded guilty to crimes which would require him to spend 60 years in prison. She doesn't have to decide anything to send him for prison until he dies.
32
Sure, the abuser, but I don't want to insult innocent fish.
2
Why do you assume every case was the same? Why pick the highest number you can? Are you unaware this man has admitted his acts?
5
If what the judge did is within the law, calling her a "fierce advocate" sounds like journalistic malpractice.
14
Restorative justice at its best.
55
To Judge Aquilina and the 140 amazing survivors who have testified so far: I'm honored and proud to share the planet with you.
81
This is sickening.
If "Judge" Aquilina wants to be an advocate, she needs to take off that robe, get off the bench, and go back to practicing law.
"She has made no secret that she wants Dr. Nassar to spend the rest of his life suffering in prison."
If that is true, if she has made up her mind before the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, I hope the appellate court has the guts to vacate any sentence she imposes, and send the case back to be heard by another judge.
This woman gives the judiciary a bad name.
8
He plead guilty. As part of his plea he agreed to hear all victims statements at sentencing.
14
Would you feel the same if the victims were boys?
24
His crimes--to which he pleaded GUILTY--already require him to spend the rest of his life in prison. She doesn't have to use any judicial discretion to sentence him to spend the rest of his life in prison
39
there is no doubt that Nasser had many many enablers. there should be a special investigation into this. if we had a decent president, he would have ensured that the feds would do an investigation into the many enablers in michigan state etc. just like with the horrific events at penn state, there should be many more heads rolling than just nasser's. many people had to have known but turned a blind eye. which is disgusting and shameful beyond belief. so many victims!!! shameful!!
35
There is obviously,no decency in the Oval Office of the White House, nor with the Vichy Republicans enabling him; You are right- it is shameful, systemically with the Olympics folks, etc, etc.and in the halls of all places of power over others
1
Why have the Medical Boards in US have not debarred Dr. Nassar?
21
His license(s) to practice can be revoked, but to stop being a "doctor" his university degrees would have to be taken away. I'm not sure if that can be done, unless the degree was obtained fraudulently.
3
He plead guilty & was sanctioned & stripped of his medical license. The plea he agreed to included listening to all victims statements. He essentially created this nightmare by his own admission of guilt.
24
He wouldn’t have to suffer through so many victim statements if he hadn't had so many victims
11
American Girl? Are you reading this? You should be cranking out Judge Rosemarie Aquilina dolls by Friday.
83
I am so in awe of these young women who have the strength and courage to speak out against abuse that they experienced.
I hope that their testimony will be a lesson and a standard for all the girls and young women who in future learn from this testimony and will recognize abuse when it is happening and object strongly and loudly. Hats off to all the brave women in the courtroom of Judge Acquilina!
50
Whatever Judge Aquilina may be doing in this sentencing hearing, brimming with compassion and sympathy, she falls short of a judge's role to remain neutral and detached. With all due respect for Professor Gillers impressive credentials, his belief that a judge is allowed to step down from the bench and join the fray as an advocate for either party (in this case the government) would deprive the defendant of the very essence of due process, a fair hearing. The idea that the magnitude of the evil of Mr. Nasser's misconduct justifies abandonment of the universal guarantee of fairness is a grave error. It may play on the People's Court or in one of the judge's novels, but it has no place in a court of law.
10
I don't think you understand the role of a judge, or how it changes between a trial to determine guilt - which has already happened here - and a sentencing hearing. He's received a fair hearing, and if he doesn't think so, he can appeal on those grounds. But as to his sentencing, she is just doing her job. How many times have we read quotes from judging imposing sentences about the horror of the crime - or, conversely, about how even though the crime was horrible (rape, for instance), he doesn't want to ruin a young man's life with any actual consequences. Judges have opinions and express them in sentencing, there is nothing wrong with that at all.
52
Oh sweet geezus. The pervert formerly known as Dr. Nasser plead guilty on all counts and as part of his plea agreement agreed to listen to all his victims at sentencing. This is not a trial. The trial is over he was also convicted to 60 years in prison for child pornography. The FBI found over 37000 images & video of children some patients. He had due process.
70
Gosh, if l didn't know what mansplaining meant before, the scoldy pontifical tone and condescension of some of these ill-founded comments toward an incredibly accomplished woman would educate me.
16
One person of power took away their voices and another is giving it back. Kudos to the Judge!
91
I completely agree with what the judge is doing, strongly commend all of the women who spoke out, and think others should follow their lead.
Not only is this helpful for the victims and shedding light onto a severe abuse covered up, it provides an important deterrent for other would-be abusers; namely, shame.
An article in this same page described yet another mass shooter today. How many more copycats will continue? Maybe a lot fewer if they thought they would be thoroughly and publicly shamed like Dr Nasser.
30
These women are extremely brave, and I absolutely take my hat off to them for their willingness to talk about what they experienced.
BUT-- no victim of sexual abuse is *obligated* to come forward, just because you (or anyone else) thinks they should. That's an individual decision, and not one that anyone can or should make for someone else.
There are many good reasons why victims of sexual abuse are often reluctant to come forward. The legal system often fails and re-traumatizes them, and rarely results in a conviction for their assailant. Their careers may be destroyed. They may experience public backlash, or harassment from the perpetrator or their friends/supporters. (See, e.g., the Roy Moore accuser who lost her house to an arson attack).
Putting the onus on victims to come forward to prevent future attacks is victim-blaming. NO ONE is responsible for abuse except for the abuser.
2
The judge needs to be careful about piling on the records from victims who are NOT OFFERING SWORN TESTIMONY for the record.
An appeals court could easily see this as unconstitutionally improper due process and an abuse of jurisdictional discretion stemming from bias because of his guilty plea.
The trial court's presiding judge needs to assure that she allows no errors in law on which she can be overturned on appeal.
Nasser needs to spend the rest of his days thinking about the lives he has harmed and doing pennence by providing medical care to his fellow inmates...including running program on drug and alcohol abuse rehab.
having his life sentences overturned because the trial court too revenge out on him would be more tragic than what Nasser has ever done.
4
Aren't these victim statements? Why would they require sworn testimony if the verdict has already been handed down?
20
Won't happen as part of his plea he agreed to hear all victims statements at sentencing.
27
These are victim impact statements. They are part of sentencing and are not under oath.
2
Speaking of the judge as an advocate might imply bias...I would say she has been tremendously impartial.
16
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina is an elected official.
I nominated her this morning for the Profiles in Courage award. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina is a hero.
36
Excellent. The judicial process should seek the truth and seek justice. This is what allowing victim testimony is helping to further in this case.
14
This article about L. Nasser (sic, with attitude! Please never refer to him as Dr. Nasser - he does not deserve that title) is so upsetting and awful but I am very very moved and impressed by the judge's handling of the process, and this article does a great job of expressing what's going on in that courtroom. To think of the dedication and hard work, talent and faith, that each of those young women, each an elite athlete, represents and exemplified, deserves his shaming and punishment, not just to him, but for the message to other pervs. And, why are such people not castrated as part of their "treatment?"
And lastly, regardless of talent, every young woman deserves to always feel safe and secure around adult males. And to all us men, we of course MUST do our part to always try to ensure that women, and young woman, in particular, feel safe and secure!
34
Move over Gloria Allred, new sheriff in town.
16
Judge Aquilina for president. ASAP.
42
I would rather have her on the Supreme Court.
33
2020 Democratic victory - Judge Aquilina for SCOTUS !
37
I'm glad Judge Aquilina is allowing each and every of these brave women a chance to tell Nassar what a piece of filth he is, but the real story is the adults who allowed these atrocities to go on for years. Nassar could have been stopped early on if not for negligent adults from parents on up.
58
This comment points to the most disturbing issue, where were the adults? Why did the police, MSU, US Gymnastics and other ADULTS not respond to the repeated reports again this villain? That to me is the most disturbing piece of the story.
Each one of them should be made to sit and endure what this creep is listening too, they are just as culpable, yet will plead that they simply didn't know and that it was someone else's responsibility. Shame on them ALL!
20
Which police department are you talking about? I’ve read everything about this story which started in the Indianapolis Star two 3 years ago and I’ve never read of any evidence of malfeasance by a prosecutor or police department.
We in the Gymnastics community know full well who they are. Sadly I don't think any heads will roll anytime soon.
2
Though I cannot truly imagine the horrors of being a victim of this abuse by Nassar, I can only imagine that I would like to give a statement to a judge like Judge Aquilina. Judge Aquilina is validating the experiences of so many young women who have been shut up in the past.
79
Why was it necessary to have a MALE doctor treat teenage elite female gymnasts? That's the elephant in the room. Many qualified women could have done the same job, without violating the bodies of these innocent girls. It's bizarre and maddening.
178
Agree! It is equally maddening that the solution is so simple. Why was there not a rule requiring that a female medical professional or coach be present during the exams? Having another person present protects everyone--both the patient and the physician. Even my male dermatologist (who does not perform any invasive procedures) has a female nurse in the room when meeting with patients.
8
@FilmFan-
I agree that should be always be the standard, but Nasser was so brazen that he committed several of his assaults even with the parents in the room (without them knowing exactly what was happening). Having a chaperone didn't deter him.
Way bizarre. I just don't get it either. My youngest son just got his R.N. He is 24. We chat about patient privacy and his role in that. He is hyper aware of the M/F difference in the hospital. He will not be alone with any patient.Nor should he.
He has to focus on this aspect of Patient care, just as much as he focuses on..patient care.
I believe all exams, all private interactions with minors anywhere should be recorded and be witnessed.
Just my opinion.
But believe me, I am a proud grandfather of two beautiful little girls. So far:)
They will NEVER be unattended with any adults in any professional capacity.
That includes teachers, clergy, police, fire and medical.Boy scouts, Girl Scouts etc..
We won't even talk about sleepovers, playdates and..sports.
I am questioning the morals of the United States Of America at this point.
Alabama made me shudder and I am so proud that they came through.
They DID come through right?
P.S. We will not be going to Alabama in the foreseeable future either.I also believe that we need to re-educate our children..
Stranger danger? Yeah right. Friends,family and authority seem to be worse.
Worried. Scared. More worried.
15
A lot like Penn State, Huh??? Nobody knew anything, for many years.
Right ??? This isn't over. Plenty of empty cells left.
62
What a different result, for example, from the male judge who gave sexual assaulter Brock Turner a 6 month slap on the wrist for raping an unconscious woman. More female judges are what's needed here.
222
.....and he only served three months.....He is appealing and hopefully will get a worse outcome as a result of his appeal.
12
Brava, Judge Aquilina. "What would you like me to know?" should become a common question.
84
Reporting like this reminds me of why I subscribe to NYT.
66
A very smart judge indeed
32
140 +: How did people not know or see??
32
This judge is letting each young woman say her MeToo and find closure. Brava!
44
Does one ever find closure to such a crime when committed at such a young age? Perhaps the closure will
come to these women when they realize their place in the incredible number of their fellow victims.
The media often speaks of closure for relatives of someone who has been murdered when they finally see the killer sentenced, While that may be satisfying, I don't believe it ever results in closure.
3
I love that she said "Leave your pain here." Judge Aquilina, I wish you had been there to say that to me many years ago. I've carried my wounds for decades and no one, even after the abuses were known, ever said that to me. Thank you. I am one with these girls and you who have restored their spirit. and mine.
230
Marie,
I’m sorry for your experience.
Not just because I’m a #MeToo ~ because a life of pain is a hard life.
This judge is a hero; her empathy and strength is incredible. I hope all those young women feel safe now and will have a better life. And, you, too.
Be well <3
58
Well done, Judge Aquilina! I just hope that this does not create some grounds for reversing the sentence or the conviction. Not being an attorney, I would not know if such grounds exist. May Judge Aquilina and the victims prosper.
12
I read up; normally in a trial or sentencing this could be a concern (ps: that law needs changing).
This phase is this judge allowing victim impact statements because the ‘doctor’ has been sentenced already for child porn or something gross like that.
These hearing are after his second trial for his criminal acts against these gymnasts.
no jury to ‘sway’ and he’s going to die in prison.
6
Nasser agreed as part of his plea bargain to allow as many of his victims to come forward and make impact statements as chose to, and he would have to listen to them.
He undoubtedly thought that only a handful would have the nerve to timidly tiptoe in and whisper a few words. No way did he ever *dream* that some 150+ women would gladly come into the courtroom and finally be able to give voice to their rage and pain. Kudos to the judge for telling him off when he complained that he couldn't handle having to listen to them all. Tough, dimwit--should've thought of that earlier.
16
Lawrence Nassar should -- must -- spend the rest of his life in prison. He has forfeited many times over his right to live in civilized society. Pedophilia may be a compulsion, but it is also a crime against humanity that has devastating, long-term consequences for its victims. Let Nassar's life sentence make every pedophile shake in his (and occasionally, her) shoes and think twice before they indulge their evil predilection.
24
How is it that he still retains the title of "Doctor." after his guilty plea?
9
I would guess it is because the institution that granted him his degree has not revoked that degree.
1
Only the state licencing board can prevent him from practising, and only his medical school, and inter and residency hospitals can decertify his doctors' credentials.
3
His medical license has been taken away. The NYT should have referred to him once as a former doctor, then they could have used the polite ‘Mr.” if they wanted to.
6
This is ridiculous. Before the law, this guy is innocent until the verdict is reached. Theoretically speaking, as far as we know, and no matter how infinitely unlikely it may be, this guy may be innocent and facing an elaborate conspiracy. The court is there to hear the evidence in as impartial a manner as possible, and to reach the verdict only after everyone makes their case. This judge, on the other hand, has already reached her verdict (based on media reports?) and the rest is a therapy session. Venting anger and disgust at anyone, even at the worst possible criminal, is not the purpose of a trial or of law in general.
6
You didn't even bother to read the article. he's already pled guilty and been sentenced to 60 years of prison for child pornography. there is no jury.
15
The verdict has been reached. This is a sentencing hearing.
15
Please read the article, Spring. This is a SENTENCING hearing - he has already admitted guilt.
58
you go Judge, nail him to the wall, i imagine (and hope) it's restorative for the victims.
19
This judge is great. These stories matter. But the takeaway from this case should be: Never hire a male doctor to be the primary physician for adolescent girls. There are so many female doctors now...why was he hired in the first place? Also never hire a male babysitter for a female child unless they are blood relatives.
22
even family molest their children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren...incest is a systemic and generational in family systems; majority of incest is familial. That is the statistic; blood relatives molest too..
2
I’m sorry. Not all men are Nassars. And some male relatives are predators. Should we also keep fathers away from daughters? This sort of generalization is dangerous. Instead, how about saying to institutions, investigate when children tell you horrible things are happening. Do something about it. Don’t allow any adult of any sexual persuasion to prey upon a child, ever.
9
Really? Plenty of girls have been abused by uncles and older cousins and brothers and next door neighbors. Also, even gender is irrelevant. I suspect there are female health care professionals who abuse female patients. Same with male adults and male children e.g. Penn State & the Catholic Church. Most important: teach children at a young age what type of touch is wrong. Teach them to say NO! Teach them that you will always believe what they tell you. And follow through by calling the police immediately. The adults and institutions in this case (like Penn State & the Catholic Church) who ignored TWO DECADES of warnings should be held responsible and pay a handsome financial settlement. And this judge is outstanding!
7
And THIS is why it matters that we have equal representation of women on the bench, in the legislature, and in executive positions both public and private. This is justice, not advocacy. She is letting the victims be heard instead of the traditional silencing so many women experience in the legal system. Brava, Judge Aquilina!
80
Justice is what's fair, what a balanced scale represents. Justice is for the criminal, a fair sentence commensurate with a crime. In this case, justice is also allowing each of the women affected to make her statement and let the world know what has happened to each of them, how lives have been impacted by one man's perversity. Justice implies truth and these women are, at last, allowed to speak the truth.
15
Such brave women in that courtroom. I applaud each one of them, including Judge Aquilina as well as the many women who chose not come forward but also suffered as a result of Nassar's abuse.
21
Thank heavens this judge has encouraged these young women to have their say. They have suffered too long already, in pain and alone and afraid. This is altogether appropriate, as it is a sentencing hearing.
Dr. Nassar could not have assaulted more than 100 young women without the recklessness, negligence and cover-ups of many others, including Michigan State University officials, the USOC chief medical officer, and US Gymnastics.
32
Wow, taking a public stand against child molestation - what a brave judge.
I agree that several victim statements would be appropriate in this case, but did the 101st statement really add material insight to the 100 that preceded it? This proceeding, now in its fifth day, is costing over $1,000 an hour. Is this really an efficient use of taxpayer dollars? It looks more like a nice vacation for the good jurist - she hasn't had to make a substantive legal ruling for almost a week. Just sit back and listen, empathize with the sympathetic victims, snarl at the evil defendant, and keep the cameras rolling. This has the appearance of a lot of showboating and narcissism on the part of a rather obscure judge who, just by chance, ended up presiding over a camera-worthy case. She is not "fierce;" she looks biased and unprofessional, a poseur protected by armed guards. And certainly, she is producing no legal rulings of great import. In fact, if anything, her cheer-leading for the victims, and her public lament, noted in a previous article, that cruel and inhuman treatment could not be visited upon the defendant, may be setting up grounds to appeal the sentence. To put it charitably, she does not represent the best of her profession.
The defendant is a bad guy. We get it. Sentence him, and get back to work.
12
While I agree there may be an element of showboating here and at $1000 an hour, it is a public expense, think of the money saved. These young women are getting the understanding and validation that could save them the cost of years of therapy.
9
Public court proceedings serve a societal function. For example, society is removing the defendant's freedom and the public should understand why. Moreover, all too often people have a "no-smoke-no-fire" fallacy for sexual abuse: if the defendant really had sexually abused many patients, there would have been more complaints. The number and intensity of these statements belie that misunderstanding. Society benefits from the public understanding the magnitude of the hidden crime. Often proponents of a lighter sentence might argue that the defendant is old, or that the harm was not a "big deal" as all the gymnastics went on to perform well, or otherwise got on in life. These statements debunk those false inferences. For practical reasons, not every victim in a mass harm case testifies during a trial, and when the defendant, as here, pleads guilty, the harm is not otherwise fully revealed to society. In this case, whether or not the judge is getting some good exposure, allowing the victim statements has multiple benefits for the athletes as well as society.
Chill out on the judge. If the defendant had not plead, the judge would have been sitting there anyway for a longer time on this case.
8
Wow.
3
FINALLY! A judge that actually looks to be steering proceedings towards true justice. It's about time and I hope it continues.
24
The judge and all the victims who came forward should be honored. They are all extremely brave. It’s sad to think that this judge is not the norm, and the victims don’t get anything but suffering. Let their light shine.
13
Yes. Honored for keeping quiet and not reporting or recognizing sexual and child abuse for decades and not reporting it to prosecutors or the media. What will the honor be called? The wall of shame might be a good starting point.
Your victim-blaming is extremely tiresome and offensive.
1
For readers who have commented with concerns regarding the impact on the verdict and "innocent until proven guilty"...keep in mind that Nassar has already been found guilty, by his own legal admission. These are victim impact statements, which are used to influence the duration of his sentence. Yes, the judge has "made a statement" herself by allowing every single victim to speak, rather than just a few. I think that hearing "there are over 100 victims" has a far different emotional and visceral impact than actually listening to the story of every single one of them. Those involved - Nassar, US Gymnastics, and ESPECIALLY MSU - could robotically dismiss a number. But it is impossible for 100+ names, faces, and stories to be ignored. That, I believe, is why Judge Aquilina wants to allow all of them to speak; the power and fury unleashed from bearing witness to abuse cannot be callously diminished or dismissed.
26
Further, each deserves for her story to be counted. The treatment their molester receives from each is short and called-for--unlike each of their treatment at his hands.
11
It may be perfectly legal for the judge to interject as she has during the witness statements, but it is unseemly. She should give Dr. Nassar’s victims the opportunity to speak and then express her own opinion when she actually hands down the sentence.
9
I disagree. I think each one of the women deserves full attention, individual thanks and acknowledgment from the judge, which seems to be what they are getting. Judge Acquilino is handling this case exceptionally well. How could anyone not be shaken to the core by these stories?
13
I am all for putting Nassar away and all for victim impact statements, but there is something about this description of the judge that to me takes away from the gravitas of the proceedings. I believe if she appeared more official, toned down the use of superlatives, and put that mask of impartiality back on at least a little bit, the sentencing would be that much more impactful.
6
Molested children and women often keep silent because they feel they might have done something wrong, or they were the only victim or they should just get past it. The numbers of speakers at Nassar's sentencing hearing will likely encourage abused people in other cases to report, as well as let all of us know that sexual assault is common, even if there are not a lot of reports. Good for the Court to allow this public disclosure of so many.
And I hope that the 3 osteopaths and the trainer interviewed in Michigan State's investigation show more concern and analysis before claiming that the reported misconduct stemmed from the athlete not understanding osteopathic practices.
19
A judge should not align herself with either the defendant or the victims. Her role is to balance the interests of all. Ms. Aquilina has clearly become an advocate for the victims. The judge who sentenced the Stanford swimmer to 6 months for rape advocated for the defendant. Both actions are wrong because both reveal that the judge was not impartial.
8
Judge Aquilina has restored the self-respect, dignity, and futures to more than 150 young women. Words cannot express the immense good she has done.
17
I seem to be in a minority, but isn't there a problem with the idea that anyone, regardless of whether they participated in the trial itself, can come forth and make a victim statement during the sentencing phase, without their statements being subject to judicial examination as to whether they are true or not? That strikes me as completely antithetical to the idea that only facts admissible in the context of a court trial should be used in determining the guilt as well as the sentencing of the perpetrator.
Otherwise, what distinguishes our system of justice from McCarthyism or the Salem Witch Trials?
6
Michigan law permits victim impact statements. The prosecuting attorney wrote into the plea bargain a clause to permit victims to be heard in open court as a condition of the plea bargain. Dr. Nassar had several choices: Plead guilty in court without a plea bargain, accept a plea bargain and plead guilty, or plead innocent and hope. If he had plead innocent, the case went to trial, each and every one of these victims would have their day in court. The prosecutor wanted to insure these same victims would not lose their voice on a plea bargain. Dr. Nassar can rebut the victim impact statements, if he chooses, but victim impact statements are not evidence. Had these statements not been read in open court, they would have been incorporated in the pre-sentence report.
The witch trial/McCarthy distinction is clear: A defendant was charged with serious crimes, had an opportunity to have a trial, but admitted and plead guilt. He is a convicted felon. Now, what punishment? The victims of crime, the nature of the crime, and the circumstances of the crime often bear heavy influence on the sentence, including whether or not sentencing guidelines are exceeded, one way or the other within the limits of the law. Judge Acquilina made a determination that no voice would go unheard, no victim would be denied. That is appropriate.
22
If he wanted to dispute these women's accounts, then he shouldn't have taken a plea deal.
Larry Nasser, Bill Cosby, and Harvey Weinstein should do a night club act as "The Three Gross Amigos". With Kevin Spacey as an understudy.
1
The judge is delivering justice. She is not "an advocate" for anything other than the truth. We need more judges like her.
447
Unclear on the concept. When judges become advocates, reversible error occurs.
4
He’s admitted his guilt.
8
We need more politicians like her you now with conviction and a back bone.
Bravo, Judge Aquilina. And to the women who suffered at the hands of this wretched excuse for a human being: we are crying with you.
79
This is what justice should look like. These girls and women will get some healing from being able to tell their stories and know that they are not alone. She has done something wonderful for them. Whether Nassar gets 10 or 60 years... (He's already been sentenced to 60 years people!!) is irrelevant. The judge made the victims heard and valued.
72
“What would you like me to know?” Now, THAT is eloquence and will get honest responses. That’s what we should all be asking in many contexts.
263
It is very telling that a female judge is the one to allow so many victims of this heinous pedophile to give victim statements and make him listen to every statement in its entirety. This has been going on for days.
While this may be excruciating for the perpetrator, it is a thing of beauty for the victims and this judge is to be commended for allowing it to happen. The judge has also taken a stand. Enough is enough. Men who commit these crimes must be punished and we must allow victims to stand before them and assail them with the reality of their crimes and the aftermath these victims face.
145
Good for the judge.
17
As part of its nightly news story on Nassar, CBS showed a young woman "victim" of his who said she'd "suspected" she'd been abused by Nassar. Huh? She doesn't know if she was abused? Maybe like most of us she also doesn't know exactly what it is that Nassar did to these girls, because we're all not grown up enough for TV to tell us. Was it sexual harassment? Sexual abuse? Sexual assault? Rape? Not sure.
This judge looks not surprisingly like TV's wealthy, snappy Judge Judy, from her over-coiffed, un-grayed hair down to the lacey feminine collar over her stern judicial robes.
7
As has been documented repeatedly in press accounts of his crimes, his patients/victims have told how Dr. Nassar and others assured them that his "treatment" was legitimate despite their concerns that something was not right about how he touched them. Remember, many of his victims were girls and/or young women (i.e., college students) at the time and he was in a position of power and authority as the team doctor.
Therefore it's hardly surprising that some of his patients/victims expressed confusion about his abuse/treatment - now and then.
11
You can find more detail elsewhere, but he touched them in grotesquely inappropriate ways under the guise of physical therapy.
10
The first part of your comment is relevant, the last part however.. Who cares what she looks like?
4
Thank you for covering the Judge and her courtroom. It seems the Judge’s process here will be marked as a major step forward for these victims and their families,as well as other victims, and how our culture views these crimes. Finally the next article needs to examine that the sheer number of victims surely points out, as paraphrased from the movie Spotlight, if it takes a village to raise a child it takes a village to abuse one. A heart breaking story and I am sure there are many folks helping - I am proud of this Judge and how she manifests our ideals of justice.
18
Judge Aquilina has single-handedly restored the self-respect, dignity and futures of more than 150 young women. Words will never be adequate to describe the immense good she has done.
196
YES. ^^THIS^^^
2
The women themselves have fought back their dignity. The judge secured time for them to speak and be heard.
6
Judge Aquilina understandably has empathy for the victims in this case and wants to demonstrate it.While it is only a sentencing hearing it does make a statement for the future. But would a defendant accused of any similar crime reasonably expect to get a fair hearing before this judge? Perhaps, but that is a concern when judges "shed any pretense of judicial distance"
8
If what you mean by a "similar crime" is that there is another defendant against whom there is amassed this quantity of evidence, s/he, too, will be guilty and deserving of the same treatment. Nothing here suggests the judge is unable to hear evidence impartially.
6
Judge Aquilina's letting every victim speak comes after Nassar's conviction, so it doesn't bear on her ability to provide a fair hearing to a similar defendant during a trial. And I'm wondering whether her actions during the sentencing phase stem from empathy or from justice.
4
A judge that condemns a murderer with passion and outrage is not being judicially distant. He or she speaks for the wounded community and rightly gives justice to the victims. This doesn't mean, and is not taken to mean, that that judge will not be fair should another murder trial occur. Again, sentencing hearings are of those already found guilty and here, heinously so.
12
You go girl. Sounds like she would give Ginsburg a rum for her money. Two peas in a pod.
45
Love your post. I know you didn't mean it the way you typed it, but I love "she would give Ginsburg a rum for her money." All of us Notorious RBG fans would also gladly give RBG a "rum for her money," or anything else we could give her, any chance we got.
4
Well done, Judge Aquilina!
91
This is JUSTICE!
138
No.But it is getting closer. Shutting down the University, is justice. I want the people in charge..to feel this..
But thank goodness for this judge! I agree..
Thing is..
We laud her for..doing her job!! ?
Why aren't all the judges doing work like this?
Is it so out of the ordinary, for someone to actually do the right thing, that we all applaud this one case.
Will this stop the next one?
Why don't we go through every single judge in America and weed out the bad ones..?
Scary thing is..a large amount of people will believe the Doctor..period.
Scary.
1
A case study in why women holding leadership roles is so crucial.
690
^ This.
10
I’m not sure about that since the president of MSU us a woman who, it seems, ignored many complaints.
7
Women in leadership failed all these girls. Lou Anna Simmons and especially Coach Kathie Klages who knew of the abuse 20 years ago and didn't act.
4
People following this case should remember that while Larry Nassar is as vile a defendant as they are likely to see, he's not the only culprit in this story. Michigan State University employed Dr. Nassar for years after complaints of his assaults had been brought to its attention, with the dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine comforting Dr. Nassar and assuring him that Dr. Nassar would "get through this". The assaults continued until the Indianapolis story broke in 2016.
US Olympics is similarly guilty of enabling Nassar's assault of these young women. Dr. Nassar is beneath contempt, but organizations ostensibly intended to protect young people failed miserably to do the simplest thing - listen to a victim's complaint, and investigate thoroughly.
502
Always remember that abusers isolate...we will never see the Bela Karolyi ranch, treatment rooms or Michigan University personnel or USA Gymnastics leaders in the same way.
Never again.
2
to clarify: Michigan State University
I have a new heroine now. What an amazing person is Judge Aquilina. I have so much love and respect for the women testifying and the judge who calls out the pig and the adults that allowed this abuse to persist with such frankness. Mad respect.
160
"Judge Aquilina rejected a request from Dr. Nassar ... to curtail the testimony of more than 100 of his victims during his sentencing hearing."
Nice try, Dr. Nassar. It's surprising you didn't get what you wanted this time. You're going to jail for a very long time. And that's the only thing you regret, isn't it, other than getting caught?
59
He’s not reading this.
I applaud what she has done. Bravo! However, this is entirely different with what the Cosby trial prosecutors want: to allow 50 women to testify regarding their allegations and accusations. A totally different set of rules apply with the Cosby trial. Fine if they all testify AFTER his conviction, if he is indeed convicted, but hearsay accucations are forbidden. As it should be. The rule of law applies in the courtroom , not a lynch mob or witch hunt. I wish the Times and other news outlets focus in on this for what is now happening in this country is a dangerous turn to the old style Lynch Mobs ala 21st feminist style. Innocent until proven guilty is the most important right along with free speech we have here, yet so far, not a peep from the media dealing with this dangerous turn of events.
8
However, the rules of evidence allow testimony showing that a perpetrator engaged in a pattern of conduct. It certainly is relevant if Cosby had a modus operandi that distinguishes how he committed his alleged crimes.
9
Cosby's prosecutors have sought to introduce the testimony of 19 women, not 50. The purpose of their testimony is to establish Cosby's modus operandi, which is a well-established hearsay exception, provided that the testimony is probative of an issue in the case. Prosecutors argue that in Cosby's case, testimony from these 19 women speaks directly to the contested issue of consent. As far as I know, the judge has not yet ruled on the prosecution's request, but when he does, I am confident he will rule based on the law of evidence, not "21st feminist style", whatever that might be.
10
The trial is over. The Judge is presiding over a “sentencing hearing.”
14
I was under the impression that judges, no matter what their personal feeling are, should not advocate for either side. A judge should run their court objectively, neither giving nor taking from either side, except in the case of a decision on law, which is supposed to be objective, based on the law, not their feelings. This advocacy seems to be happening more and more in our courts and for the NYT to condone this behavior is disheartening, at best.
P.S. yes, Nasser appears to be evil and will probably be put away, but the judge has no reason to cheer on the victim statements.
16
The article made clear that this was not a trial so (absolutely necessary) rules of impartiality do not apply. My concern is that this very public excoriation (deserved) will become a factor during the civil trials. These young women have suffered enough and do not need to go through 10+ years of soul crushing legal maneuvering.
4
In the article, a judicial expert explains that judges must remain impartial during a trial. But once a person has been found guilty, as in this case, judges are encouraged to share their opinions.
10
You're incorrect. After guilt has been established (as it has in this case, with a guilty plea) judges don't have to be neutral. What would that even mean, anyway? That they not sentence the defendant? That they sentence him but refuse to condemn him? What?
In the sentencing phase judges generally "judge"--i.e. give a sentence and also make statements about the perpetrator's bad behavior. They're not mediators.
18
this woman is a national treasure
60
this is incredible. much praise for the judge!
21
She is phenomenal!
14
Nassar sounds like the worst of the worst and will never leave jail but isn’t any judge in any case supposed to be impartial and treat both sides equally?
Is this judge risking an appeals court asking for a retrial?
7
This is a sentencing hearing.
12
As jb notes, the trial is over. These are victim impact statements in a sentencing hearing. The very essence of sentencing is the judge's decision about a single party, the one found guilty.
8
Judge Aquiline needs to be put in charge of an independent investigation into MSU. She seems to be the only one taking this seriously.
198
Her recent actions would exclude her from being independent.
He's a monster and should spend the rest of his life in prison. Yes, it's great to have the women abused by him all give victim statements. And I agree that MSU and the olympic organization should root out all those who were complicit.
However, by being such an over the top advocate in this sentencing hearing, the judge can not claim independence.
The judge's eyebrows look weird. Eyebrows are supposed to be hair, not drawn on with a sharpie.
5
How about you focus on the substance of what she is doing rather than her looks. Would you be commenting about a male judge's bald patch or protruding nasal hair?? Her looks could not be more irrelevant.
50
Sir: Do you also criticize how men who are public figures look?
16
After reading this story, that's all you have to say? Unreal.
5
Nothing wrong with allowing ALL the victims to do victim impact statements if the court's time permits.
The verdict doesn't appear to be in doubt, so there's no reason to even consider judicial impartiality.
73
He already pleaded guilty.
1
Ah, the sweet justice that can follow when women are in positions of power!
39
I love this judge beyond belief
22
“Leave your pain here and go out and do your magnificent things.”
What a beautiful sentiment to come out of this beyond despicable chapter.
These women are amazing. To emerge from the misplaced shame, face their attacker and to lay themselves open to the public - I can't imagine the strength that that they have to do that.
I feel that as members of our society we should all make ourselves listen to every word. Maybe that will change us all to be better advocates, to speak up and become complicit through "head in the sand" behavior and be better listeners when people are suffering.
Thank you Judge Aquilina.
272
Kudos to the judge. Applause and respect for all the victims who have spoken, or those who can not.
Lets raze the whole system that put these girls in harms way! There needs to be more prosecutions of those in US Olympic Committee, the Womens Gymnastics Org. and whomever else was making buck on these girls efforts, and horrors.
Too many adults, alleged professionals were circulating around these girls and none came to their aid! Apparently none were deemed as safe to go to. How in the world does that happen?
Burn the whole thing down! And what about the Karolyi's!?!? They need to be investigated to the last inch of their lives.
43
Some of these young ladies have made calls to totally gut and revamp the entire program and from what their testimonies indicated it was a program of pure hell. Not only the abuse going on with Larry Nasser but verbal and mental abuse from the coaches. Karolyi's gym has been shut down. I agree investigations on all levels is required. I applaud the judge of allowing all Americans to hear the honest truth of what was going on. We need to bring all of this to light in order to change it.
9
"Leave your pain here and go out and do your magnificent things."
I get a huge lump in my throat reading this. Bless this woman.
553
I've followed this case in detail and have been very deeply impressed with the depth and quantity of victim statements. One thing is very clear: Inmate Nassar could have never persisted in his reprehensible behavior for 25+ years without enablers or socially impaired people/institutions surrounding him. This story is far from over.
I spent 40 years in forensic psychology, retiring only recently. Every one of the victims who has told of their experience could represent maximum overload for an entire career. The overwhelming magnitue of Nassar's criminality is beyond measure. He is a Mason-Dahmer-Dexter-Lecter hybrid of sexual molestation.
280
Hold on, Dan. Nassar never killed. That’s why the victims are being heard loud and clear.
3
Reading your comments, Thomas, I do get it. I know as a man it can be hard to let go of a knee-jerk identification and side on that account with another man, Thomas, but it needs to be done just to be honest and decent. Especially when those men are monsters.
5
You're wrong, he killed the psyches of 100 plus women. He's as bad or worse than an actual murderer Imo.
5
This is exactly why we need more woman everything. Can you imagine a male judge allowing this?
143
I believe that comment makes you sexist
5
Yes, I can. Especially male judges who have raised daughters.
6
You can imagine it, but it has not happened yet.
It took a woman to allow victims to give voice to the pain suffered by girls and women at the hands of male predators.
13
Judge Aquilina, you are amazing. Thank you for allowing all of these voices to be heard.
31
Thank you Judge Aquilina. Nasser's complaint about the emotional distress of hearing his victims' testimony was mind boggling! These were young kids he abused! Talk about having neither humility nor understanding. Ugh!
32
Please, Judge Aquilina, run for public office!
9
Judge Aquilina was elected to her current office of circuit judge. All state judges in Michigan hold elective office.
5
This Judge is hearing and listening to these young women and girls, its a shame so many other adults did not.
There were complaints about Larry Nasser for 20 years, other people besides Larry should be facing criminal charges. Many of the adults that heard these complaints were mandatory reporters and did nothing, or worse talked these girls out of making formal complaints.
220
I have a feeling this is not over.
1
Those in authority at MSU did nothing because it didn’t involve their Cash Cow Football Program. Bottom line for Big Ten schools is money. Trustees st MSU won’t fire their President who is complicit. Compare to Penn State’s scandal about Jerry Sandusky...it was FOOTBALL that grabbed their attention. Pathetic. Our American culture.
2
I appreciate the Times running this profile and reminding us how our justice system is supposed to work and how civil servants like Ms. Aguilina make our country tick. With all the other major news that is happening this story has not gotten the level of attention that is deserved. Why are so many adults failing our young people? Penn State, Baylor, and now USA Gymnastics. How are mortgages and reputations weighing more in the mind of these "leaders" than the young brave victims in these scandals.
28
This is why it is so important to have women in positions of power. Compare this to the Judge Persky in the Brock Turner case who was more concerned with the rapist's future than the future of the victim saying a long sentence would have a "severe impact on him." Hard to imagine a male judge clearing his docket to hear from a hundred young female victims.
404
that'a such a sexist statement if i ever heard one. Most male judges are fair. How about the lenient sentence given to the child rapist Mary Kay Letourneau by a female judge(7 years) and let her off until she raped that boy again? Your argument cuts both ways.
4
Although this case does illustrate the importance of female judges, you cannot really compare the two cases. Dr. Nassar abused his professional capacity to abuse more than 100 victims. Brock Turner appears to be a below average intellectual capacity person with a drinking problem who assaulted someone after a party.
You’re seriously comparing Turner to Nassar? Thank god Turner was caught, that kid still has a chance to become a good person. Not everyone is Hitler and people deserve second chances.
1
Bravo for this judge. Now please NYT focus on Michigan State and its horrendous inaction that allowed the abuse to continue. I am amazed the President is keeping her job. This is a public institution and the trustees must answer for their inaction to the public.
245
Yes. Starting with the MSU Athletic Department.
11
Sounds like Penn State all over again. I bet it's those alumni with political connections that's keeping Michigan St's president employed
10
Starting with the MSU President!
3
“Leave your pain here,” Judge Aquilina told one young woman, “and go out and do your magnificent things.”
This brought real tears to my eyes. These women and girls are so strong. A deep, abiding strength that awes me.
58
The Honorable Rosemarie Aquilina has done a stellar job by allowing the victims of Lawrence G. Nassar to literally, "have their day in court." The young people - mostly, if not all, young women - have had the opportunity to express their feelings and to be heard in a safe setting after silently enduring assault and molestation or worse for years.
Judge Aquilina has not just provided a safe forum for Nassar's victims but has treated them with the empathy and respect they so clearly deserve.
Thank you, Judge Aquilina, for your service.
118
I take no issue with Judge Aquilina's permitting every victim to speak - every one. What I find unacceptable is the judge's permitting the victims to speak to the defendant as opposed to the Court.
Does Judge Aquilina permit attorneys to engage in colloquy during trials or hearings?
All comments should be addressed to the Court. And Judge Aquilina should remember that she's the Court - not Rosemarie Aquilina - when presiding over this and every other case assigned to her.
9
Nassar is sitting in the witness box during all of this for a reason. It's not exactly uncommon for victims to speak directly to their attacker as well as the court during this stage of the proceedings.
16
This is common legal procedure in victim impact statements.
26
This the kind of judicial activism we can all applaud. Let's put her up for SCOTUS.
6
Judge Aquilina should be a role model for the judiciary. She is doing more good for the victims than days and weeks and months of therapy. I wholeheartedly applaud her. And now I would like to see charges brought against Michigan State University and Gymnastics U.S.A. They allowed this abuse to go unchecked for years and their officers share the guilt in this horrific case.
60
I salute Judge Aquilina for her no nonsense approach to rendering judgement, the kind of approach we used to see, decades ago, when crimes were committed.
I believe it's high time to get back to dishing out real punishment for criminal acts, as opposed to the nearly universal willingness of prosecutors, especially in the United States, to offer deals resulting in lighter sentencing, in return for a guilty plea.
Police, prosecutors, and judges, need to do their jobs and insure that the punishment fits the crime.
Rapists, murderers, and child molesters are routinely given all manner of deals, if they plead guilty, and some prosecutors even agree to deals in return for defense attorney cooperation on other unrelated cases; consequently some of these criminals live amongst us, and often commit the same crime again.
Meanwhile our jails are full to overflowing with prisoners who have been arrested for such minor offences as possession of marijuana; the reality is that these crimes are easy home runs for prosecutors who cater to keeping the prison occupancy rates low, for the various for-profit public companies operating our jails.
So much we seem to be doing that is simply wrong, and permitted, and encouraged, all for profit, with no regard whatsoever for the societal damage.
13
It is not enough to say that 140 girls were violated and hear a few examples. Woman after woman after woman needs to be heard to drive home the scale and the impact of this appalling crime. Only by knowing, feeling, and experiencing the scale of the crimes can a just sentence be rendered.
21
Sometimes it really does make a difference to have a woman in a position of power.
26
Michigan- a truly beautiful state, but the grief & horror that's been exposed here in Lansing & East Lansing is nothing but ugly and very, VERY sad. Thank you, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, for helping us ease our pain!
11
Applaud the judge. Cathartic.
7
Judge Aquilina has shown herself to be an exemplary judge. She has been heroic in pursuing justice for these women. Now if only she could replace Clarence Thomas!
16
Thank you for giving these women a chance to be heard. And where would women be without judges who care, support from fellow victims and a free press?
13
In 2016, we witnessed Judge Aaron Persky sentence former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner to only six months in a county jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman. (Turner filed an appeal last month.) The same year, District Judge John McKeon also handed down a lenient sentence to a Montana man convicted of raping his 12-year-old daughter.
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina is not a breath of fresh air on the bench; she's a powerful gust of justice that is long overdue. And I love the poetic justice that Nassar not only must listen to his victims' statements, but that a strong and no nonsense female judge is the one turning up the volume.
797
That appeal filed by Brock Turner, was reported by the NYT on Dec 2, 2017. Part of the basis of his appeal is described here: " "Mr. Turner’s appeal takes issue with the prosecutor Alaleh Kianerci’s many references to the Dumpster during the trial, particularly her repeated use of the phrase “behind the Dumpster.”
The appeal said the use of the phrase “implied an intent on the appellant’s part to shield” his activities from others and “implied moral depravity, callousness, and culpability on the appellant’s part because of the inherent connotations of filth, garbage, detritus and criminal activity frequently generally associated with Dumpsters.”
The victim and Mr. Turner were found in a three-sided structure that customarily houses a Dumpster. They were discovered on an open side, facing a darkened basketball court. The fraternity house faced the other side."
Are you kidding me? That insults me as a woman, and should insult everyone who believes in justice. Aaron Perksy could learn a thing or two from Judge Aquilina. She is like karma kicking Nassar in the groin. Hopefully, when karma is done in her courtroom, she'll visit Brock Turner and Aaron Perksy, and give them what they deserve.
Emily Doe, if you're reading this, I hope you're doing OK, if not well. There are a lot of women who won't ever forget what Brock Turner and Aaron Perksy did. Wishing you much strength and good health.
13
The cases you refer to are not nearly as horrific as Nassar's 20-year sexual rampage, aided and abetted by the coaches and board members. I don't defend the lenient sentences, but do keep some perspective.
Why are not Nassar's enablers on trial also?
3
Refreshing to see a judge empower victims to leave their pain in the courtroom and move on as survivors. Many times judges seem beholden to the high-powered, and often politically connected, defense attorneys, allowing the guilty to model in the cloak of a victim down a farcical runway.
18
Listening to hundreds of gymnasts give testimony to their systemic heinous abuse is heartbreaking. I shudder to imagine the mental anguish they have and still endure from this trauma.
This article reminds me how resilient women are and of our capacity to support and lift one another. I am comforted to hear of the collective healing in Judge Aquilina's courtroom. It is a ping of hope in a sea of evil & darkness.
34
Based on recurring stories of abuse of all kinds, it seems to me that among the various sports oversight organizations, the notion of protecting the health and safety of athletes ranks fairly low, if at all, on the list of priorities.
Is it possible that these groups (including the USOC) have outlived their usefulness?
11
I'm so proud of these women. From the judge to all the victims who are standing up to Nassar. It seems even though 3 people have stepped down from the USA Gymnastics Board that the problem in much bigger. It is a huge organization with lots of money. Money that ignored what was going on to keep making more money.
I pray these women find a way to make even more of a difference for their peers coming up behind them. Nassar and 3 board members is not going to do it.
19
Good for the Judge, and bravo to the strength and courage of the women who have spoken out.
This can’t erase their pain, and yet it certainly is a step in the right direction. Unlike their perpetrator, they have their entire lives before them. I sincerely hope this gives them the chance to put at least some of the pain behind them and get on with their glorious futures, something that cannot be taken away.
21
Extraordinary. I admire the judge as much as the many victims for speaking out.
19
“The severe nature of the crime was compounded many times over by the failure of adults who knew or should have known that crimes were occurring to take action to protect the victims,”
Often it is not the crime of the monsters, but the inaction of the mundane bystanders that is most disturbing, normal people who failed the call to protect innocent children from horrible abuse.
That average human beings can't be relied on to perform so basic a task of humanity is a very bitter pill. Are they us?
33
It is a real problem that the judge is and advocate of anything other than the law. If this so called judge isn’t able to remain neutral she has no business on the bench.
9
After conviction, the sentencing judge commonly addresses the crime as to its heinous nature and impact, frequently with power of expression of the outrage done to the victim(s) and the community. I'm surprised how many people seem to be confusing this convicted molester's sentencing with the trial before his conviction. That's a very different thing.
29
Did you bother to actually read the article? The creep had already been convicted. This was the sentencing phase of the trial which includes victim impact statements. This is not unusual. It is only the large number of victims testifying and the compassion of the judge that makes this case stand out.
13
Please read again.
12
As a Michigan State alumna and former USAG gymnast, thank you, Judge Aquilina.
Thank you for being a fierce advocate for these victims when their (and our) institutions and implicit leadership have failed them; thank you for giving these victims a meaningful voice and platform; and thank you for providing a strong female role model for the rest of us.
32
A judge at sentencing is not a victim advocate. A judge should listen to victims, not comment about bravery and difficulty, and then announce the sentence. Commentary is permissible and appropriate when explaining the sentence, but not after each witness. This judge has committed error in her comments. Whether it is reversible error is yet unknown. If the sentence is reversed because of the judge's comments, think about all the victims having to do this again.
14
Source on that rule?
13
I don't think she is a "victim advocate." Nassar was convicted of criminal sexual conduct, and this is the sentencing phase of the trial. The judge is allowing the many victims of this monster's actions to describe the effect on them, hardly an irrelevant distraction. By supporting each woman's testimony and responding to it personally, the judge is simply recognizing and affirming the courage it took for them to come forward in public and speak of their experience. No appellate court will reverse Nassar's conviction. You can bet on that!
11
He has already pleaded guilty to the charges of molestation.
7
What a wise use of the judicial system. There is more to criminal law than focusing on the defendant's guilt and subsequent punishment. Crimes have victims, and given the devestating scope and nature of these crimes--and concurrent inaction by those who had the power to end them--this judge enables the healing of these women. Bravo, and thank you for giving this law student another judicial hero.
17
I greatly admire Judge Aquilina for her moral clarity, and willingness to use a monolithic and impersonal system to bestow the most human of benefits.
23
It's not the judge's duty to be an advocate for anyone. In fact, it's the exact opposite of what being a judge should be about. Judges should strive to be impartial. Larry Nassar is likely guilty and undoubtedly a bad person but this trial has become an absolute farce. Let the lawyers advocate for their clients or the state. If the judiciary loses its impartiality you can bet that the government's collapse will not be far behind. The system must remain fair, even to the accused.
8
He's not accused. This is post-conviction sentencing--he is guilty now, a convict, not the accused. And judges are not supposed to be impartial about the defendant's guilt after the defendant has admitted guilt and been found guilty. That would be absurd. Nor are they required to be neutral about the crime and its impact on victims. They can pass "judgement." That is why they are called judges.
As for the rest of us, why should we be even remotely "impartial" in a case like this? Is it reasonable to say he is "likely guilty" or "probably a bad guy," despite hundreds of victims, tens of thousands of child porn photographs on his computer, and a guilty plea? Really? No, I think it is cold and heartless. We have an obligation to stand with the victims. I am 100% in support of the innocence project and concerned about wrongful convictions, and have been for decades, but there is a point at which guilt is established with almost metaphysical certainty, and this case has reached that point. It is actually an insult to the wrongfully convicted to imply that this case IN ANY WAY resembles their cases.
27
This is the sentencing phase. He has been found guilty in this case already and previously of child pornography. The victims are speaking now, and the accused may also present witnesses to his good deeds as he might be able to.
26
It's NOT a trial! It's a sentence hearing. He already pleaded guilty to molesting the girls, hence no trial. And he's already gotten 60 years for possession of 37,000 child pornography images. Get your facts straight!
33
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina has done what no other adult in the equation chose to do. She gave the victims a safe setting and allowed them to voice what so desperately needed to be heard.
Most refreshing. And goodness knows, these young women deserved a supportive adult.
42
Whether or not legal scholars take issue with Judge Aquilina's proceedings is not an issue. It has no bearing on the judgment and clearly she has already made up her mind regarding the sentence she is going to impose. But in these times when so many people feel that the judicial system has been too lenient on people with power who have clearly committed terrible crimes it is encouraging to see a judge that wants to combine a cathartic proceeding for the victims with a judicial proceeding for the guilty. I congratulate her for this heart-felt effort.
26
The other day, I watched the plea hearing of Nassar and the first victim during this current sentencing. I have not recovered. Watching the past few days of testimony has been a wrenching experience, and I find that I can't stop weeping while watching. As horrible as these stories are, and as tone-deaf as the MSU administration continues to be, there is a silver line surrounding the tears. One, this Judge and two, these young women. If one's experience is limited to television judges and witnesses, I suggest you spend some time watching what goes on in this East Lansing court. Has there ever been a case of matching a case with a Judge this appropriate? And the women! Some 15 and 16 years old! These smart, driven, talented scholar-athletes who trusted and relied on those who should have been responsive to their needs. They had innocence stolen from them, they had trust ripped apart, they had psychological burdens no young girl should have to bear.Thanks to loving and supportive parents, spouses, siblings and friends, they have survived the wilderness of neglect at MSU. Thanks to the empathy and compassion and intelligence of this Judge, these young, articulate women are standing and shining a light for future generations.
38
Judge's being advocates instead of simply applying the law is the source of many of the problems we face today.
It doesn't really matter much here except to give an outlet for these girls and women to perhaps experience a catharsis of sorts which is admirable but in courts dealing with important policy issues advocacy needs to stay out of the equation.
10
This is a sentencing hearing. The standards are entirely different, as the article notes.
19
The judge isn't advocating. The doctor already pled guilty. This is the sentencing phase. She is losing victim impact statements. This info was in the article.
7
A great day for our judicial system. It also reminds me that this is why it matters to have woman in the bar and on the bench. When I went to law school in the 70's women were only 20% of the class. I believe we have changed the system for the better. Right on judge!
287
I am undergoing treatment at a Dutch hospital where there is an inter-disciplinary system of care. The surgeon handling my case is a female. I mentioned to one of the residents - a male - that there seems to be a "lot" of women in the group; he said that "9 of 12" in his study group were female. I said there was more empathy and group-think than I had experienced before in such a setting. He agreed--said "they are more compassionate aren't they?"Two guys talking about how we needed the girls around.
2
It is entirely appropriate for a judge to welcome victims into her courtroom, to put them ease, to encourage them to tell their stories. This judge has gone far beyond that to a degree that is unseemly. She has thrust herself into the spotlight that rightfully belongs to, and should remain on, the victims by becoming their cheerleader and a de facto prosecutor. Nassar wrote a letter to the judge accusing her of conducting the sentencing in a way that focuses media attention on herself, and I hate to say it but he's absolutely right.
4
She's allowing those victimized by his extensive crimes to have a moment to face and address him. How can one possibly edit an ever-growing list and why should one? They all deserve to have their words heard without critique, Nassar's discomfort is of no importance whatsoever. Brava, Judge Aquilina and all of the brave young women in attendance.
25
Giving these women there voices will surely spur victims that are not victims of this man to come forward. Women need more advocates like this judge who don't judge these women for staying quiet but for letting them speak their truth.
11
By becoming an advocate, she makes her sentence vulnerable to challenge. Several years in each case, all consecutive (more than 100 cases), should put him away for life. Why expose this to the risk of appeal?
10
i doubt the sentence will be overturned. The law professor Nadler is right: the judge has wide latitude after the conviction and during sentencing, so Judge Aquilana took advantage of that wide berth given to her and allow all of these women to testify. Your point however is applicable if she had done this prior to his conviction.
11
Think about the victims. Justice is not social revenge. It's repairment of the damage done, which in this exceptional case, is posible.
5
I just finished watching nearly two hours of the live feed.
What Judge Aquilina has done is remarkable, and the compassion she has brought to each of these young women is exemplary.
It is harrowing to listen to the stories and feelings of these courageous young women. Such strength.
As one young women did, I will not name the defendant as anything other than the defendant, as he is beneath the dignity of a name. His crimes, committed even once, are abhorrent. The sum total of these stories, with the same details and storylines, is unimaginable.
Particularly telling was testimony from one of his oldest victims, now about 36 years old, whose own father--a doctor--had donated the medical table to the defendant as a service for all the athletes he was treating. To hear of her struggles for 25 years in dealing with the aftermath of the defendant's crimes is heartbreaking beyond all reason.
To hear of the willful oversight and lack of care for these young women by USAG, UMS, and other relevant institutions as well as the many adults in positions of authority is heartbreaking. Will there be accountability?
I hope that every single one of these women--and all the other victims who did not speak--heals, and finds the peace they deserve. I hope they rise through life, strong, assured, proud, compassionate, and unafraid; that they do leave their pain in that court room, in the space Judge Aquilina has provided for them, and do indeed achieve magnificence in their pursuits.
37