Justice Robin Camp has apologized for asking a teenage rape victim ‘Why she couldn’t just keep her knees together?’ during a 2014 trial before acquitting the girl’s accused attacker.
A public inquiry into the actions of Camp, spurred by complaints, is underway and the Canadian Judicial Council has confirmed the Alberta Provincial Court judge’s position.
Among the allegations, Justice Camp “adversely commented on the character of the complainant in a way that went beyond assessing her credibility to denigrating her character and to suggesting that her character would make it more likely that she consented to sexual relations.”
In the review, Camp agreed his comments were “insensitive and inappropriate.” Camp has issued apologies in relation to his comments and plans to apologize again during the Inquiry Committee hearing.
Camp has undergone “counseling and training” with an expert on the law of sexual assault, a psychologist and a Superior Court Justice.
According to the Canadian Judicial Council’s Notice of Response to the Allegations, “Justice Camp wishes to continue to serve as a judge. He believes he can make a positive contribution as a member of the Canadian judiciary. He will strive to keep improving and to keep learning.”
Camp’s verdict in the 2014 case was overturned on appeal.
