A judge who admittedly made controversial comments about a sexual assault victim’s morals is continuing the fight for his career during a public inquiry in Calgary.
Justice Robin Camp, who asked a sexual assault victim why she ‘couldn’t keep her knees together’, is at the centre of an inquiry to determine whether or not he should be removed from the bench.
On Thursday, his defence counsel called another character witness, University of Toronto Feminist Law professor Brenda Cossman.
She said she met Camp in May and he told her that he ‘didn’t fully understand how his mistake was rooted in the history of sexual assault’.
Cossman then said she helped him with the ‘gap in knowledge’ by giving him reading material and later an exam on the issue of sexual assault.
She did add that some of his comments were ‘rude and stupid’, but understands that he is remorseful about what happened.
Two other witnesses are expected to speak on Thursday and one of those could be Camp himself.
It would be the first time that Camp will have spoken in front of the panel.
On Wednesday, Camp’s defence submitted a series of character reference letters to the board, including one penned by his daughter Lauren Lee Camp.
In it, Lauren Lee admits that she too was a victim of sexual assault and her father helped her through the incident and empathized with her.
She also called him ‘gracious’ and a ‘gentleman’.
The inquiry, the 11th in Canada’s history, is expected to last until September 14.
It could result in Camp’s removal from the bench altogether, a situation which has only happened twice in Canada.
