Judge Baugh: Suspension over remarks unwarranted

HELENA (AP) — A judge facing suspension for saying a 14-year-old rape victim appeared "older than her chronological age" says he believes the penalty isn't warranted.

Judge G. Todd Baugh (baw) of Billings proposed Friday in a written response to the Montana Supreme Court that it withdraw its order for a 31-day suspension. But he added he won't remove the consent to judicial discipline he previously gave.

Baugh says he found no other cases in which the Supreme Court went beyond the recommendations from the state Judicial Standards Commission, as it did in ordering his suspension in addition to the commission's recommendation of public censure.

Baugh suggested the court relied on incomplete media reports in deciding the punishment.

The judge was removed because of his comments in the case of a Billings teacher who raped a student.