Threat targets leader of bid to recall judge

A Stanford law professor leading the effort to recall a judge in a controversial sexual assault case said Wednesday that someone sent her an envelope containing “white powder” and a threatening note.

The incident prompted Stanford Law School to shut down two rooms and send out a campus alert at 1:19 p.m. Investigators later determined the substance was an “inert powder that poses no health concern,” university officials said.

Michele Dauber, who has organized the effort to recall Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky, confirmed that the envelope came through the mail and was addressed to her. The gold envelope looked like it held an invitation, Dauber said, but when she opened it she saw white powder and the following note:

“Since you are going to disrobe Persky I’m going to treat you like Emily Doe. Let’s see what kind of sentencing I get for being a rich white male.”

Emily Doe refers to an unnamed woman who was sexually assaulted in 2015 by former Stanford swimmer Brock Turner. A jury found Turner guilty of taking advantage of the unconscious woman outside of a campus fraternity party. Persky sentenced Turner to six months in jail, a ruling that has been criticized by Dauber, prosecutors and advocates for sexual-assault victims. Prosecutors had argued for six years in prison, but Turner was released after three months.

The case received national attention after Persky’s ruling and the publication of a letter the sexual assault survivor read in court.

Dauber has since led a campaign seeking Persky’s removal from the bench, and she succeeded in getting a recall measure placed on the June ballot in Santa Clara County.

The professor, whose recall effort has received criticism from colleagues in the legal community — including the district attorney’s office, despite its opposition to Persky’s ruling — said she receives threats and angry letters “all the time,” but not with white powder.

“What’s important is that the recall campaign is continuing,” Dauber said. “The recall campaign will not be intimidated by this kind of inappropriate behavior.”

Stanford’s Neukom Building, which houses the law school, was not evacuated, university spokesman Ernest Miranda said. All other law school operations are continuing as normal, he added.

In the meantime, school officials have asked people to avoid the building as an added precaution. Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@ sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno