Kristine Cecava

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Kristine Cecava is a Cheyenne County, Nebraska district judge[1] who garnered media attention for sentencing a man to probation for two felony child sexual assault charges, a sentence viewed by many as being too lenient.[2]

In May, 2006, Judge Cecava sentenced Richard W. Thompson to 10 years probation, instead of a prison term. Her reason for the probation was that she believed Mr. Thompson, who is 5' 1" and 50 years old, would not survive prison.[2] The state has filed an appeal of the sentence, calling it too lenient.[3] A petition calling for her resignation was signed by 900 people and submitted to the Nebraska Judicial Qualifications Commission, but was rejected because the commission doesn't have the power to remove her from office for an error in judgement.[4]

Cecava received her law degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1976. During law school, she was a member of the Law Review and received the Order of the Coif. Since that time, she served in a variety of positions, including county attorney. She was later appointed as a county judge and was president of the Nebraska County Judges Association in 1996. She was appointed to the district court in 1999.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Judge Kristine Cecava Biography. Chadron State College. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
  2. ^ a b Stiffer sentence sought for sex offender. AP. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
  3. ^ Attorney general to appeal child sex abuse sentence. AP. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
  4. ^ Commission Rejects Petition Against Judge In Short Rapist Case. AP. Retrieved on 2006-08-30.
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