Judge in rape case asks court to decide punishment

BILLINGS — A Montana judge who said a 14-year-old rape victim appeared older than her chronological age has waived formal proceedings and asked the state Supreme Court to decide his punishment.

District Judge G. Todd Baugh said in a court filing Tuesday that his actions appeared improper and failed to promote public confidence in the courts. He says he is waiving the pending proceedings before a judicial oversight panel.

The Montana Judicial Standards Commission filed a complaint against the Billings judge earlier this month, citing his comments about the victim and the lenient, one-month prison sentence that Baugh gave to the rapist.

The judge has previously said he expects to be publicly reprimanded or censured over his handling of the case. Critics have called for his removal from the bench.