Nassar Judge: After 'Death' Sentence, She Supports The Girls

LANSING, MI – Ingham County Judge Rosemarie Aquilina in January looked convicted sexual molester Larry Nassar in the eyes and told him, "I just signed your death warrant" as she sentenced him to up to 175 years in prison. Aquilina, in her first interview since the conclusion of that trial, said Tuesday that as soon as a verdict was reached, she was there for Nassar's victims.

The judge, in an interview with The Detroit News, advocated for the young women and girls who were molested by Nassar during routine medical examinations. Many of the women have said their complaints and reports of Nassar's inappropriate touching during the exams were ignored by Michigan State University coaches, trainers and administrators.

During a recent MSU board of trustees meeting, Nassar victim Kaylee Lorincz was only allowed to speak for three minutes regarding a claim that interim President John Engler offered her $250,000 to settle a lawsuit against the university.

Aquilina told The News that Lorincz and other victims should be allowed speak as long as necessary. "I don’t like girls being shut down," Aquilina told The News. "Everyone has the right to be heard.”

Aquilina has been criticized by some legal observers for her outspoken condemnation of Nassar at the close of his trial. Aquilina, though, on Tuesday defended her words, telling The News that she behaved appropriately and that once a jury reaches a verdict, a judge is no longer fair and impartial.

During Nassar's sentencing hearing – and after Nassar pleaded guilty and was convicted – Aquilina often lent a sympathetic ear to the victims who testified about being abused by Nassar. She encouraged the women to speak up, be strong and consider themselves survivors.

To Rachel Denhollander, who in 2016 was the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar of sexual misconduct and inappropriate touching during his exams, Aquilina told her that it was she who started the "tidal wave" that led to the conviction of Nassar. "Your words have grace and great hope for a better future in the world for all women and for all survivors," Aquilina said.

At the close of the trial, Aquilina sentenced Nassar to 40 to 175 years in prison for sexually abusing his young patients. Nassar also was convicted of sexual abuse in a separate trial in March in neighboring Eaton County and sentenced to 40 to 125 years in prison. He currently is in federal prison on a 60 year sentenced on a child pornography crimes.

Read more:
MSU Failures Enabled Nassar's Sex Abuse: Lawmakers
Charges Against Ex-MSU Medical School Dean Detailed
Nassar Gets Final Sentence In Gymnast Sex Abuse Cases

Photo: Judge Rosemarie Aquilina (L) speaks with Larry Nassar (R) and his attorney Shannon Smith as he appears in court to listen to victim impact statements prior to being sentenced after being accused of molesting about 100 girls while he was a physician for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, where he had his sports-medicine practice on January 16, 2018 in Lansing, Michigan. Nassar has pleaded guilty in Ingham County, Michigan, to sexually assaulting seven girls, but the judge is allowing all his accusers to speak. Nassar is currently serving a 60-year sentence in federal prison for possession of child pornography. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)