Women to Admire: Judge Rosemarie Aquilina
By Robin Lempel
With her decision to open her court and allow Larry Nassar’s survivors to speak out, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina quickly became a hero for the Me Too movement.
We’ve already got the Notorious RBG. But in 2018, we gained another badass judge to admire: Judge Rosemarie Aquilina.
The case against Olympic doctor Larry Nassar rocked the gymnastics and Olympics world. With at least 265 victims, Nassar was sentenced 40 to 175 years in prison for sex crimes for one case and 40 to 125 years in another.
Judge Aquilina became a hero to all sexual assault survivors when she allowed over 100 survivors to read victim impact statements. These survivors were able to both confront their abuser and begin their healing process, thanks to the judge.
Olympian Aly Raisman was one of the women to speak during the sentencing hearing, giving a strong, powerful speech.
“Larry, you do realize now that we, this group of women you so heartlessly abused over such a long period of time, are now a force and you are nothing. The tables have turned, Larry,” she said. “We have our voices, and we are not going anywhere.”
Much of this is thanks to Judge Aquilina, who quickly became known for her unequivocal support of the survivors. As for Nassar, there was zero sympathy. After reading parts of a letter Nassar wrote after pleading guilty, she promptly tore it up.
At the end of the initial sentencing hearing, Aquilina said it was her “honor to sentence you” and gave Nassar 40 to 175 years in prison, which she compared to signing his “death warrant.” To boot, she told Nassar she wouldn’t even send her dogs to him, and regretted that the Constitution forbade cruel and unusual punishment.
Aquilina, who’s known for her bluntness and cowboy boots, was a fierce champion and advocate for the survivors, commending them on their bravery. She referred to them as survivors rather than victims, and reminded the media that this was about them, not her.
Some were critical of Judge Aquilina, noting judges should be impartial and unbiased. The survivors’ speeches were criticized as well, being called emotional or too vengeful. (Interesting thought, that a sexual assault survivor would be emotional or want justice?)
Judge Aquilina is now a hero of the Me Too movement, having given 156 women the opportunity to confront their abuser and walk away stronger. For what seemed impossible for so long, sexual abuse survivors now have a prime example of being heard and supported.
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“I am not really well-liked because I speak out,” Judge Aquilina said in her courtroom. “I don’t have many friends because I speak out. If you ask me a question, you better be ready for the answer. I speak out because I want change. Because I don’t believe in hiding the truth. I am not saying I am always right. But I try.”