Federal Court Justice Robert Camp has officially resigned from his position after a unanimous recommendation by Parliament to do so.
A ruling in the Canadian Judicial Council occurred and released a statement that says: “We find that the judge’s conduct, viewed in its totality and in light of all of its consequences, was so manifestly and profoundly destructive of the concept of impartiality, integrity, and independence of the judicial role that public confidence is sufficiently undermined to render the judge incapable of executing the judicial office.”
Camp was involved in a sexual assault case back in 2014 that involved him repetitively calling Alexander Wagar, the rapist, as “the accused” while he continuously blames the young woman for not being able to “keep her knees together.” He also suggests that “young women want to have sex, particularly if they’re drunk.” Both the young woman and Wagar were homeless at the time.
The young woman’s identity is protected by a publication ban, meaning that a court order prohibits any public or media from revealing any details from a judicial proceeding.
The “accused one’s” side was obviously favoured by the judge as he ruled to acquit (free someone of their charges) the rapist on trial but it was later overruled. Camp radically advises the assailant to “be careful with women” while facing the young woman who was raped by him in court.
Camp apologized during his testimony at the judicial inquiry. “I’m very sorry that, on reflection and rereading what I said, that I intimidated her, using facetious words,” the judge testifies.
However, his daughter Lauren Camp presented a letter to the inquiry writing that he is “old-fashioned in some ways” and that there are “gaps in in his understanding of how women think and experience life.”
He has fought hard to keep his job until Thursday, personally wanting to speak directly to the chief and chief justices of the Canadian Judicial Council, but they declined his wishes saying that nothing has changed since his last public hearing.
Both civilians and officials fought to have Camp removed from his position, but if he wouldn’t have resigned, he would have been appointed to the federal bench by this summer.
After witnessing the gut-wrenching case, the Parliament voted unanimously to further study Conservative leader Rona Ambrose’s sexual assault bill, suggesting that judges’ lack of training can be held accountable by the judiciary council.
