Court overturns teacher’s sex conviction

Story here. Excerpt:

'The Georgia Supreme Court on Monday reversed a sexual assault conviction against a 28-year-old schoolteacher who had a romantic relationship with one of her former students.

In a 5-2 decision, the court said the teacher, Melissa Lee Chase, should have been allowed to present a defense that the 16-year-old student consented to the sexual relationship.

Under Georgia law, the age of consent is 16, Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears wrote. “Generally speaking, it is not a crime in Georgia to have physical sexual contact with a willing participant who is 16 years of age or older.”
...
At a bench trial, the student testified during cross examination that she initiated the relationship with Chase because she “had feelings for her.” The student also testified she was the one who “pushed” the relationship.
...
Justice George Carley, joined by Justice Hugh Thompson, dissented, saying the majority “remarkably” misinterpreted the law and produced a “disturbing” result. “A statute enacted … to protect students from exploitation by teachers is now almost useless due to the judicial imposition of a defense of consent,” Carley wrote.'