(CNN) At his own request, the California judge facing a recall effort for his handling of a sexual assault case involving a Stanford student will no longer hear criminal cases. Judge Aaron Persky, a Stanford alum, has come under harsh criticism since sentencing Brock Turner to six months in county jail for assaulting an unconscious woman outside a fraternity party. Prosecutors had asked for a six-year prison sentence for the January 2015 assault. A source familiar with the judge's thinking said Persky wanted to step aside in part because he didn't want cases before him to receive unfair and unwarranted national attention.Judge Aaron Persky asked to be reassigned to civil divisionEarlier this week, Persky recused himself from making a decision in another sex case
"While I firmly believe in _'s ability to serve in his current assignment, he has requested to be assigned to the civil division, in which he previously served," he said. Supporters of efforts to remove _ from the bench welcomed the news.