He’s a Jewish activist who is “celebrating . . . Jewish values in the law”. From here:

http://www.sobeloff.org/

“Steven G. Salant observed that none of the state or local bar associations in Maryland provided a forum for those attorneys interested in Jewish issues and concerns. He discovered that many attorneys were willing to devote their time to build such an organization. Therefore, the Simon E. Sobeloff Society was established to provide a social vehicle to network, encourage civility and build camaraderie among attorneys while celebrating their Jewish heritage and Jewish values in the law.”

I was just made aware of the Montgomery County case (article: http://www.gazette.net/stories/10212009/rocknew222349_32522.shtml) involving three young boys accused of raping an unconscious girl at a party, while they were all students at Col. Zadok Magruder High School. Obviously, rape in any circumstance is a harrowing, gut-wrenching, indescribably painful event; what was so particularly unbelievable about this case was that the judge, one Steven G. Salant, came uncomfortably close to blaming the victim for her own violation. This is UNACCEPTABLE from someone who supposedly represents the assertion of justice in an uncertain world. When a judge can turn on an underage victim because she had the misfortune of being ASSAULTED by THREE young men who could’ve easily chosen otherwise — well, you know something is sick and rotten within our society. What if she were your own child or a child you knew and loved?

I beg you, please, don’t let this sort of behavior stand from the officials that the public is supposed to trust and respect. An adult man (Salant) incapable of respecting that a young girl has the right to drink and party without then being brutally assaulted, has the right to act flirtatious without being forcibly penetrated, is not a man capable of making sound judgments on behalf of the state of Maryland. He sounds a bit like these three young rapists who couldn’t determine for themselves that this girl did not ask to be brutalized.

I was born in ’83 in Bethesda Naval Hospital to a black woman with a history of abuse (who was also a Naval Officer, who pioneered this path for other women like her) and have since moved all around this “great” country. So I have seen many horrible things happen to many wonderful people and I know, absolutely without a doubt, that blaming young women for having the misfortune of living in a violent, rape-fueled culture is NOT how we will achieve a better world. Young men of all races and backgrounds need to be held accountable for their violent actions. No man of any age or status has the right to “take” sex from anyone else. No man is ever entitled to anything from any woman, unless consent is granted. I think this country needs to have this message drilled into its collective mind.

Thank you for reading this message, I hope that I’ve expressed myself clearly enough. I refrained from the coarse and angry language I wanted to use, in hopes that more of my intent will get through. I feel so sick, as do many, many other women that I know, that this even happens, this blaming of rape victims who were said to be “asking for it” — yet, have we stopped teaching boys NOT to rape? Have we successfully educated young men about simple human respect and decency? Is that why these three young men could drag a drunk girl to a bathroom and f*** her without her consent? Is that why a male judge could then lay BLAME on this young girl, implicating her in her own unconscionable RAPE? Right, because no girl should ever drink, have fun, and engage in flirting. Sure, that’s fair to expect of young women, whereas we should expect absolutely nothing but sexually violent reactions from men? Right.

This stains Montgomery County and it stains Maryland. It is absolutely foul. Please, investigate this issue, reprimand this judge Steven Salant, or remove him from his post. Perhaps your court officials could benefit from rape/victim sensitivity training? That this happened once is almost too much to believe — but I have no doubt that if this incident is ignored, more victims will experience unfair prosecution, and justice will have been a myth all along. Is that all we, as human beings, are capable of? Hurting others and blaming them for their own hurt? After all these civilized years? Have men still not heard the memo about choosing NOT to rape? Or the message about choosing to RESPECT young women?

Again, thank you for your time. I hope that this message is heard. It is likely not the first nor the last you will receive on this issue.
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What’s up with judges flouting their own baggage? This reminds me of this douchebag eviscerated here at Shakesville. How can these men even walk upright and make intelligent sounds? I have more respect for the wormy things I find underneath big rocks.

Sure sending an irate letter won’t help any, but it felt good, especially after reading through the comments. You’re all amazing people, do you know that? Except Jara, holy crap. So sad.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8385048.stm