Dear Editor
One of the legacies of the Harper government is a sexist judge. In September 9, 2014 Alberta judge Robin Camp dismissed a sexual assault charge against a man who was alleged to have raped a homeless woman during a house party. The decision was overturned by the province’s Court of Appeal on Oct. 27 of this year on the grounds the judge not only did not understand the law governing sexual assaults, but displayed a propensity to voice sexual stereotypes and myths during the trial proceedings. A new trial has been ordered.
The appeal hearing was still pending this past June when Judge Camp was elevated to the Federal Court by former Conservative Minister of Justice Peter MacKay. Presumably due diligence is performed prior to government appointments, patronage or not, so it would seem reasonable that an appeal against a sexual assault judgement should have been red-flagged.However, one reason it might have gone unnoticed was the rush by the Conservatives to fill almost 40 judicial vacancies before its mandate ended. It might have meant some shortcutting when it came to vetting. Or, perhaps, no vetting whatsoever.
It makes you wonder just how many other “legacies” have been left us.
Bill Brassington Sr., Burnaby
