NOW-NJ seeks ouster of Troiano, Silva

The National Organization for Women (NOW-NJ) has called for the removal of Superior Court Judges James Troiano and Marcia Silva from the bench for mishandling unconnected allegations of teenage sexual assault.

A state Appellate Court has overturned rulings by the two judges that would have allowed the alleged assailants to avoid being tried as an adult.

“Sexual assault victims’ stories are often not believed and too frequently dismissed for lack of proof. In the Monmouth case, there is clear and convincing evidence and yet the judge wanted leniency for the young man,” said Linda Weber, the NOW-NJ legislative vice president.  “We have seen this message repeated in case after case. If a victim cannot get justice even when there is direct proof, fewer victims will come forward, perpetrators will go unpunished, and research suggests that they will rape again. This needs to stop now.”

Troiano, the 1982 Republican candidate for Essex County Executive and a judge since 1992, refused to try a 16-year-old boy accused a raping a 16-year-old girl and sending a videotape of the assault to his friends as an adult.

Silva, a former GOP State Assembly candidate, is under fire for refusing a prosecutor’s bid to try a 16-year-old boy as an adult after he was charged with raping a 12-year-old girl.  Silva ruled that she was unconvinced of any physical, mental or emotional injuries to the girl other than the loss of her virginity.

The group had previously called for the ouster of another Superior Court Judge, John Russo.

Russo was suspended for asking a victim why she didn’t keep her legs together.