Complaints mount against Utah judge who at rape sentencing called ex-Mormon bishop a ‘good man’

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | April 15, 2017 | Jessica Miller

[Utah Binger]

Complaints are mounting against a Utah County judge who earlier this week praised a former Mormon bishop before sending him to prison for sexually abusing two women.

Fourth District Judge Thomas Low on Wednesday became emotional as he handed down a prison sentence to Keith Robert Vallejo.

Julia Kirby — who was 19 when Vallejo, her brother-in-law, abused her — told The Tribune after the sentencing that she was shocked by the judge's words to her abuser. Now, she plans to file a judicial complaint against him.

And she's not the only one.

"He completely disregarded her," Lawrence said. "He did something that we see happening over and over from position in authority dealing with these kind of cases: Making the perpetrator into the victim, showing sympathy and praise for the perpetrator and trying to make him into the victim. It's completely inappropriate."

Criticism of Low initially began in March, after The Tribune published a story about Low's decision to allow Vallejo to remain free on bail pending sentencing and return home to his wife and eight children — even after the jury handed down the guilty verdicts at the February trial. Kirby said last month that she felt the decision indicated that Low did not believe that she and the other woman had been abused.

Ryan McBride, the prosecutor on the case, said Low's comments were inappropriate and said it may have come in response to more than 50 character letters about Vallejo, most of them detailing the good things he has done. The defendant's brother spoke at the hearing and compared Vallejo to Jesus.

The judge also became emotional Wednesday as he addressed Kirby directly, telling her that she was "a survivor."

[Utah Binger]

As the judge tears up in his testimony for one of the special people. Can't make this stuff up.

[dp0622]

He got emotional with the victim too.

He got emotional with everyone.

He sounds 10 cards short of a full deck and she be suspended pending psychiatric evaluation.

Symptoms of an impending nervous breakdown.

Remind me of Beck for some reason.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Guilty of “Judging in Magic Underwear”

It can cloud a fella’s objectivity.

[Utah Binger]

Remind me of Beck for some reason.

I thought the same thing.

[Utah Binger]

They all wear white shirts to show the “line”.

[Terry Mross]

Was this the judge at the custody hearing for Anna Nicole Smith’s baby?

[PAR35]

The defendant's brother spoke at the hearing and compared Vallejo to Jesus.

So the defendant's own brother compared him to the brother of Satan?

Them being Mormons, he couldn't have meant anything else.

By the way - did the Bishop keep his Temple recommend?

[aMorePerfectUnion]

"They all wear white shirts to show the “line”.

What good is self righteousness, unless you can be prideful about it?

That's the root of all self-righteousness anyway.

[1FreeAmerican]

LOL! A really weird cult this is!

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Indeed! Mormonism is the weirdest cult.

From celestial sex among gods to spirit children lining up to get an earth suit to a hundred other bizarre beliefs - all wrapped in magic underoos!

There is even a regular meeting of their pantheon of gods on kolob during spring break each year. At that meeting, the male gods divvy up all the unattached female gods to bring back to their worlds as breeders.

[Twinkie]

Years ago, a couple of Mormon missionaries came around our
house doing “mission work”. Being young and naïve, I
allowed them in the house. They left a book which told
how the Mormon men would become “gods” and all the women
who joined the church would “belong” to the men (if
the women’s husbands didn’t also join the Mormon church).

Plus, the added incentive was that the women would be
barefoot and pregnant, producing Mormon “gods” into
eternity. - They returned to get their book. I told them
“thanks, but, no thanks!”.

I had the distinct impression that the hardback book was
information not given to just anybody. Some Mormon guy on
FR used to rake me over the coals when I related this,
vowing & declaring I was lying. I was not; and I am not
lying.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Some Mormon guy on FR used to rake me over the coals when I related this, vowing & declaring I was lying. I was not; and I am not lying.

I believe you.

Once their beliefs are dragged into the sanitizing sunshine, their gut reaction is to call you a liar. We've seen it here all the time in the past.

[Twinkie]

Thank you.

[Twinkie]

A neighbor of ours at that time (over 40 yrs. ago) had
joined the Mormon church; but her husband was very
resistant to being hooked into it. She was a real
assertive person, big in the PTA. - She once invited me
to attend her church with her; which I did - ONCE -
- they started singing a hymn “Praise to the Man”. I
just naturally assumed it was Christ; until the end of the
first stanza when the words were clearly written to
JOSEPH SMITH (Brother Joseph). I shut my mouth and didn’t
go any further.

I can’t remember if this church visit was before or after
the missionaries’ visit when they left the book. I think
it was before. - I just tried too hard to please people
back then; and Julia had been kind to us (brought us a
pie).

Of course, the Mormon guy on FR will probably say I’m
lying about the song of praise to “Brother Joseph”, too.
But, I’m not lying about that either.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

“Praise to the man”

Oh, you are 100% correct!

Ol’ Joe Smith was a horn-dog, fraud.

Ping to Elsie, who knows what a fraud Joe Smith was...

[Utah Binger]

Elsie-thon coming up.....

[Twinkie]

“Elsie” was the guy, or woman, who evidently was a Mormon,
& was the one who called me a liar. (In all fairness, I’d
bet that many Mormons may not know the deep secrets of the
sect & just follow along like good little sheep.)

[Elsie]

Complaints mount against Utah judge who at rape sentencing called ex-Mormon bishop a ‘good man’

HMMMmmm...

Would this be a Mormon who USED to be a bishop in the LDS religious organization; or a total EX-Mormon altogether?

---

Evidently the 'judge' hadn't read the BOOK:

There is NONE that doeth good; no not one.

---

Moroni 10

 

And wo be unto the children of men if this be the case; for there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not one. For if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work by the power and gifts of God.
(10:6, 18, 25)

[Elsie]

Some Mormon guy on FR used to rake me over the coals when I related this, vowing & declaring I was lying.

Mormons don't rake on FR very much these days.

[Elsie]

- they started singing a hymn “Praise to the Man”.

Here ya go; straight from the horse's mouth...

(click)

Praise to the Man!

 

 

 

Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!
Jesus annointed that Prophet and Seer.
Blessed to open the last dispensation,
Kings shall extol him, and nations revere.

Chorus
Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;
Death cannot conquer the hero again.

Praise to his mem'ry, he died as a martyr;
Honored and blest be his ever great name!
Long shall his blood, which was shed by assasins,
Plead unto heav'n while the earth lauds his fame.

Chorus
Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;
Death cannot conquer the hero again.

Great is his glory and endless his priesthood.
Ever and ever the keys he will hold.
Faithful and true he will enter his kingdom,
Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old.

Chorus
Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;
Death cannot conquer the hero again.

Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven;
Earth must atone for the blood of that man.
Wake up the world for the conflict of justice.
Millions shall know 'Brother Joseph' again.

Chorus
Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven!
Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain.
Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren;
Death cannot conquer the hero again.