Judge in Louisiana State University rape case throws out old rulings, sparking debate over conflict of interest – Crime Online

A Louisiana judge hearing the Madison Brooks rape case reportedly overturned a 1972 rape conviction, a year after releasing another rape suspect on reduced bail.

According to FOX News Digital, District Judge Gail Horne Ray’s actions following her son’s serial rape conviction and the dismissal of two other rape cases raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

Ray began her tenure as a judge in the 19th District Court on January 12, 2023. Three months later, she fired De’Aundre Cox, who was accused of raping a 12-year-old without notifying the victim or prosecutors.

Earlier this month, she overturned Donald Ray Link’s 1972 conviction for aggravated rape, even though Link’s lawyers had not requested it.

Ray’s son, Nelson Dan Taylor Jr., raped numerous classmates between 1995 and 1996 after entering their homes wearing a mask and attacking the victims at knifepoint, court documents show. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Brooks was drinking at Reggie’s Bar in Baton Rouge on January 15, 2023; she asked for a ride home because she was allegedly too drunk and couldn’t find her friends.

Kaivon Washington, 18; Everette Lee, 28; Casen Carver, 18; and 17-year-old Desmond Carter were identified as the defendants in the car with Brooks. Because Brooks allegedly could not tell them where she lived, they dropped her off in a residential area; she was later struck by a car driven by a rideshare driver.

Madison succumbed to her injuries in the hospital.

According to the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the suspects are now facing the following charges, among others:

• Washington: Third degree rape
• Carter: first and third degree rape (will be tried as an adult)
• Lee: Principal perpetrator of third-degree rape (meaning they were present but did not participate and did nothing to prevent the rape)
• Carver: Third Degree Rape Principle

Link, who was serving a life sentence, appeared before Ray last month to request parole. She overturned the conviction, citing “incorrect instructions” given to the jury during the trial as a “glaring error,” WBRZ2 reports.

“Ultimately, the court relies on its ‘inherent authority’ to make its decision,” District Attorney Hillar Moore III said after Ray’s decision. “The fact is, the court does not have the inherent authority to ignore due process of law and consider what it wants, when it wants.”

The Louisiana Supreme Court has ordered a stay of litigation and suspended any further action pending a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, lawyers for the defendants in the Brooks rape trial – some of them civil rights lawyers – argued that the prosecution’s aggressive prosecution of black men accused of raping Brooks had racist undertones.

After Brooks’ death, the case became a public spectacle after the defense released video clips that portrayed Brooks in a negative light. A few months later, one of the defense attorneys reportedly leaked Brooks’ autopsy report, which revealed details of the alleged rape.

An autopsy revealed that Brooks’ blood alcohol level was nearly four times the legal limit, and all four suspects had been drinking at the bar. However, only 28-year-old Lee had been drinking legally, as the legal drinking age is 21.

Defense attorneys argued that no crime had occurred because Brooks had consensual sex with Washington and Carter.

Check back later for updates.

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(Featured image: Madison Brooks/Instagram)