BILLINGS — The Montana Supreme Court will censure a state judge and suspend him without pay for 31 days for saying a 14-year-old rape victim was “older than her chronological age.”
Justices said in Wednesday’s opinion that Judge G. Todd Baugh of Billings eroded confidence in the court system with his actions in the case of convicted rapist and former teacher Stacey Dean Rambold.
“There is no place in the Montana judiciary for perpetuating the stereotype that women and girls are responsible for sexual crimes committed against them,” Chief Justice Mike McGrath wrote.
Baugh, 72, was ordered to appear before the court July 1 for a public censure.
The judge, who is the son of former Washington Redskins quarterback “Slingin’ Sammy” Baugh, sent Rambold to prison for just 30 days last year after he pleaded guilty to sexual intercourse without consent. Prosecutors appealed, and the Supreme Court in April ordered a new sentencing in the case by a different judge.
Baugh has apologized for his actions and plans to retire when his term expires in December. He drew widespread condemnation for suggesting the victim shared responsibility for her rape, including protests and a petition seeking his resignation.
Rambold was 47 years old at the time of the crime. The girl, a student in his class at Billings Senior High School, committed suicide while the case was pending trial.
Rambold has been free since last fall after serving out his original sentence — 15 years in prison with all but one month suspended — from Baugh. After his release, Rambold registered as a sex offender and was to remain on probation through 2028.
On Tuesday, the Montana Supreme Court denied a request from Rambold’s attorneys for a new hearing. They argued the one month Rambold already served in Montana State Prison was sufficient.