Canadian Judge Resigns After Asking a Sexual Assault Victim “Why Couldn’t You Just Keep Your Knees Together”

A Canadian federal judge has resigned after he questioned the actions of a victim in a sexual assault case, suggesting that the crime could have been avoided if she kept her legs closed.

The case in question went to trial back in 2014, when Justice Robin Camp served on the Alberta Provincial Court. Throughout the trial, Camp reportedly sided with the assailant,  suggesting the plaintiff could have physically avoided the attack if “she skews her pelvis slightly.” Additionally, Camp attempted to convince the victim that what happened to her wasn’t “necessarily a bad thing,” as “sex and pain sometimes go together.” Adding that, “sex is often a challenge,” after asking her “Why couldn’t you just keep your knees together?” 

The judicial council released a transcript of Camp’s controversial statements to the victim and the accused, highlighting the judge’s advice to the assailant to be more careful with women.

“You’ve got to be very sure that the girl wants you to do it. Please tell your friends so that they don’t upset women and so that they don’t get into trouble. We’re far more protective of women – young women and older women – than we used to be and that’s the way it should be,” Camp reportedly said to the accused, just after revealing his thoughts about young women’s drunken sexcapades.

“Young women want to have sex, particularly if they’re drunk,” Camp said, according to the provided transcript.

To make matters worse, showing no sympathy for the victim, Camp reportedly ruled to acquit the accused, NPR reports. His ruling was later overturned.

 At the beginning of the next year, the man was retried and acquitted by the same court. As a result of Camp’s bias and questionable actions, many fought to have him removed from his position. However, despite the outrage surrounding the judge’s controversial trial, Camp was appointed to the federal bench by the next summer.

During that time, officials filed a criminal complaint against the judge, asking the judicial council to evaluate the judge’s behavior.

As a result, the Canadian Judicial Council encouraged Camp’s resignation, saying “the judge’s conduct was so manifestly and profoundly destructive of the concept of impartiality, integrity, and independence of the judicial role that the judge was rendered incapable of executing the judicial office.” The council’s decision resulted in Camp’s subsequent letter of resignation on Thursday, which will take effect on Friday.