Roy Moore challenged Alabama law that protects rape victims, documents reveal

[rpannier]

link:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/nov/14/roy-moore-alabama-law-rape-victims-judge

As chief justice of Alabama’s supreme court, Moore twice argued that the state’s “rape shield” law should not prevent alleged sex offenders from using certain evidence about their underage accusers’ personal lives to discredit them.
The cases were among 10 between 2013 and 2016 where Moore dissented from the court’s majority and sided with alleged offenders who were appealing to the court as part of their efforts to overturn convictions or punishments for sexual crimes.

snip

A review by the Guardian of all decisions issued by the Alabama supreme court during Moore’s second stint found decisions on 16 criminal cases that involved alleged sexual crimes. Moore sided with the offender over state prosecutors in 13 of those cases.
On 10 occasions, this meant dissenting from the majority view of the court’s nine judges. Moore sided with the state in the other three cases.

snip

The rape-shield law also arose in the case of Sherman Tate, a school mentor who was convicted of coercing two 15-year-old female students to touch him sexually. Moore argued in June 2014 that attorneys for Tate should have been allowed to tell jurors that he believed the girls were bisexual and in a relationship together.

[Angry Dragon]

1. A real piece of work

[avebury]

2. Probably afraid the rape shield

law could be used against him.

[Dale Neiburg]

3. And this would have mattered because....?

"Moore argued in June 2014 that attorneys for Tate should have been allowed to tell jurors that he believed the girls were bisexual and in a relationship together."

[longship]

4. Good reportage from the Guardian.

R&K

[mdbl]

5. Of course he did,,,

trying to save his own ass.

[DFW]

6. What a surprise

After all, the killer whale isn't going to support a law that protects seals

[radhika]

7. Question: Why wasn't he outed as a pedophile YEARS earlier?

Seems the whole community of Gadsen knew - mall cops, school office staff conveying his phone call, legal colleagues.

As this creep moved up in his career - even to the point of running for the ALSC - none of these people spoke up. And as for defense attorneys in the cases cited - wouldn't that have been time to make his history known.

There is a lot of ugly in the US and the World on this very topic.

[rpannier]

9. Probably for the same reason a lot of people are not

He was the state's attorney, DA, asst DA and went on to be Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court. All of those positions are highly respected and powerful positions
Especially in the 60's and 70's, challenging people like that was fraught with very little protection. Moore was likely close with the sheriff, all the chiefs of police, the other prosecutors, etc. I would not be surprised if he were friends, or at least on good terms with the Attorney General of Alabama.

When my friends inb the Chicago area wonder why it wasn't brought up sooner, my question back to them is, "At the age of 15 you're propositioned or assaulted by Mayor Daley. Who would you tell?"

[RainCaster]

8. GOP- Gay or Pedophile?

What amazes me is that so much of Alabama thinks it's ok to molest a 14 year old.

[Crunchy Frog]

10. I hope this is making it into the campaign ads. n/t