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Alberta judge told complainant to 'keep your knees together' | Alberta judge told complainant to 'keep your knees together' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A judicial committee is calling on the removal of a judge who told a woman she should "keep (her) knees together". | |
Alberta's Minister of Justice complained to the Canadian Judicial Council after Justice Robin Camp made "victim-blaming" statements during a 2014 rape trial. | Alberta's Minister of Justice complained to the Canadian Judicial Council after Justice Robin Camp made "victim-blaming" statements during a 2014 rape trial. |
Mr Camp acquitted the accused, but his verdict was overturned and a new trial ordered. | Mr Camp acquitted the accused, but his verdict was overturned and a new trial ordered. |
The judge will be able to make written submissions in his defence. | The judge will be able to make written submissions in his defence. |
The council, which is in charge of investigating judicial misconduct, called an inquiry into Mr Camp's statements in 2015. | The council, which is in charge of investigating judicial misconduct, called an inquiry into Mr Camp's statements in 2015. |
Mr Camp was presiding over a sexual assault trial when he asked the 19-year-old complainant "why couldn't you just keep your knees together?" | Mr Camp was presiding over a sexual assault trial when he asked the 19-year-old complainant "why couldn't you just keep your knees together?" |
He also repeatedly referred to her, the complainant, as the accused, and told her that "pain and sex sometimes go together". | He also repeatedly referred to her, the complainant, as the accused, and told her that "pain and sex sometimes go together". |
His comments drew sharp criticism from sexual assault victims and their advocates. | His comments drew sharp criticism from sexual assault victims and their advocates. |
In its report, submitted Wednesday, the committee that led the inquiry found the judge's conduct "was so manifestly and profoundly destructive" he should no longer serve. | In its report, submitted Wednesday, the committee that led the inquiry found the judge's conduct "was so manifestly and profoundly destructive" he should no longer serve. |
They found the judge "relied on discredited myths and stereotypes about women and victim-blaming" during the trial. | They found the judge "relied on discredited myths and stereotypes about women and victim-blaming" during the trial. |
During the judicial inquiry, Mr Camp expressed remorse for his comments and said that he has been educating himself about sexual assault laws and stereotypes. | During the judicial inquiry, Mr Camp expressed remorse for his comments and said that he has been educating himself about sexual assault laws and stereotypes. |
"I was not the good judge I thought I was. I struck the wrong tone in counsel submissions. I was rude and facetious," he said during the hearing. | "I was not the good judge I thought I was. I struck the wrong tone in counsel submissions. I was rude and facetious," he said during the hearing. |
"I didn't realize the implication came with those words." | "I didn't realize the implication came with those words." |
During the inquiry, the complainant said his comments made her contemplate suicide. | During the inquiry, the complainant said his comments made her contemplate suicide. |
Although the committee acknowledged his "significant efforts" to correct the situation, they found that no amount of training could repair the public confidence lost during the trial. | Although the committee acknowledged his "significant efforts" to correct the situation, they found that no amount of training could repair the public confidence lost during the trial. |
Mr Camp will have the opportunity to file written submissions on his behalf before the council makes its final recommendations to Alberta's Minister of Justice. | Mr Camp will have the opportunity to file written submissions on his behalf before the council makes its final recommendations to Alberta's Minister of Justice. |
A verdict is expected in the new rape trial on 31 January. | A verdict is expected in the new rape trial on 31 January. |
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