‘Knees together’ judge seeks return

CALGARY — A former judge who asked why a rape complainant didn’t keep her knees together has applied to practise law again.

A notice on the Law Society of Alberta’s website says there is to be a day-long reinstatement hearing for Robin Camp on Nov. 14 in Calgary.

Camp resigned from the Federal Court in March after a Canadian Judicial Council recommendation that he be removed from the bench because his conduct was “manifestly and profoundly destructive” to the impartiality and integrity of the judiciary.

Transcripts from the 2014 sexual assault trial show that Camp, who was a provincial court judge in Calgary at the time, called the complainant “the accused” numerous times and told her “pain and sex sometimes go together.”

Camp found the accused, Alexander Wagar, not guilty, but the Appeal Court ordered a new trial that resulted in him being acquitted for a second time.

Camp apologized for his remarks and has undergone training and counselling.

When law society members become judges, they are automatically no longer part of the organization.

The law society said that when a former judge applies to be reinstated, the steps taken depend on whether he or she retired in good standing or was otherwise removed from the bench.

He was named an Alberta provincial court judge in 2012, but did not receive training or judicial education on sexualassault law or how to conduct sexassault trials.