Judge to woman in rape case: 'Why couldn't you just keep your knees together?'

[Sue]

Why did I know Harper had something to do with this?

[Alarm]

Originally Posted by Sooeygun

Appointed by the Harper govt.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2612649/lo...tment-process/

"Camp was among 45 people appointed to the courts by the outgoing Conservative government over a two month span before the federal election in 2015— the most in more than a generation."

Emphasis mine...
That was federal court... How did he get to be a judge in 2014, was probably what Lainie meant.

The case in question took place in 2014 when Camp was a provincial court judge.

[Lainie]

Yes, I was wondering how he ever got to be a judge in Canada at all when he didn't know Canadian law.

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

This is a page about Rape Culture, but it has a funny cartoon concerning the judge's question.

Seaboe

[Sue]

Originally Posted by Sue

Why did I know Harper had something to do with this?

So even worse, Harper appointed this man to a Federal court AFTER this case? I wish I could be surprised.

[queen of the caramels]

Originally Posted by Sue

So even worse, Harper appointed this man to a Federal court AFTER this case? I wish I could be surprised.

I doubt Harper will bother to distance himself after the fact, though.

[Mouse]

Originally Posted by Seaboe Muffinchucker

This is a page about Rape Culture, but it has a funny cartoon concerning the judge's question.

Seaboe

Have to admit, whenever some idiot dudebro is all "What did she expect to happen, when she [insert whatever vice dudebro deems worthy of being punished by a horrific assault]?" I often wish I could kick them as hard as I can in the balls, then be like, "What did you expect would happen, when you left the house without wearing a cup?"

[Alarm]

Originally Posted by Sue

So even worse, Harper appointed this man to a Federal court AFTER this case? I wish I could be surprised.

Originally Posted by queen of the caramels

I doubt Harper will bother to distance himself after the fact, though.

It wasn't Harper... it was his Minister of Justice.

So you can blame this one on Peter.

[Sooeygun]

Originally Posted by Lainie

Yes, I was wondering how he ever got to be a judge in Canada at all when he didn't know Canadian law.

Oil and gas lawyer with strong ties to Alberta Progressive Conservative party

http://www.lawyersweekly.ca/articles/2992

[TallGeekyGirl]

He is now resigning the bench.

A Canadian judge who asked a woman why she couldn't keep her knees together after she alleged sexual assault in a trial said on Thursday he was resigning from the bench.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017...-couldnt-keep/

[Psihala]

From a CNN article on the subject:

The comments came to light after the Alberta Court of Appeal overturned the acquittal. The man was found not guilty a second time, which Camp said contributed to his claim that he deserved a second chance.

It sounds like the then 19-year old defendant still got off. This insensitive judge is gone but, in a larger sense, I'm not sure how justice really was served here.

~Psihala

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

Psihala, you weren't in the courtroom; you don't know what the actual evidence was. Justice may very well have been served.

On the plus side, at least the judge didn't claim he was stepping down because he'd reached retirement age.

Seaboe

[Sooeygun]

Absolutely ridiculous that he could be a criminal judge without actually knowing criminal law. But not uncommon apparently.

http://globalnews.ca/news/2945530/tr...-know-the-law/

There is now a case where the judge relied on an outdated part of the Criminal Code

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmont...olds-1.3921580

[DawnStorm]

A similar case happened in this county back in the 90s (IIRC). The rapist got a light sentence, and the judge was on record as saying that it takes two to tango. That did not go over well in the community of course! I don't remember what happened to him, but I don't think it was his first controversial case. He may have been suspended prior to being disciplined.

[Psihala]

And in other news...

New Jersey judge asked woman if she crossed legs to stop sex assault, complaint alleges

A judicial board accused a New Jersey judge of violating rules of conduct when he asked a woman during a court hearing if she tried closing her legs to prevent an alleged sexual assault. State Superior Court Judge John Russo made the comment during a 2016 hearing on a restraining order the woman was seeking against a man she accused of forcing her to have sex.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-jer...ult-complaint/

[thorny locust]

He should try closing his mouth.


ETA: from that story:

during a 2016 hearing on a restraining order the woman was seeking against a man she accused of forcing her to have sex.

According to a transcript contained in the complaint, when the woman described her encounter with the man, Russo asked her, "Do you know how to stop somebody from having intercourse with you?"

When the woman answered affirmatively and said one method would be to run away, Russo continued, "Close your legs? Call the police? Did you do any of those things?"

Hey, I know a way! Ask for a restraining order!

(may not work better than any of the other suggestions, of course. Especially if it's necessary to ask Russo for the order.)

[Dr. Dave]

IKR, he suggests calling the police, but is seeking a PPO not on the same spectrum? Sort of like calling the police in advance?

[Blatherskite]

How else is a man supposed to know a woman doesn't want to have sex with him if she doesn't immediately call the police or force her legs shut in an inhumanly strong clench of steel that cannot be forced apart?

Simply saying 'no' or trying to get away could so easily be construed as consent, am I right?

[Alarm]

Originally Posted by Blatherskite

How else is a man supposed to know a woman doesn't want to have sex with him if she doesn't immediately call the police or force her legs shut in an inhumanly strong clench of steel that cannot be forced apart?

Simply saying 'no' or trying to get away could so easily be construed as consent, am I right?

No is easy to misconstrue, it's an anagram of "on", after all!


I'm just surprised none of these judges suggest something along the line of "Did you try rolling into a ball so he can't get access to your wimen bits?"
or "Did you try playing dead? If it works for bears, it should work for men!"

[Don Enrico]

The Guardian's fashion section (of all sections) has a relevant article:

What does the Belfast rape trial tell women? Make a complaint and you'll be vilified

But perhaps you have not heard some of the extraordinary questions the woman was asked during the trial, because, as invariably happens with these stories, she was the one who seemed on trial. It’s weird how this only really happens with alleged victims of rape, isn’t it? Imagine if your laptop was taken and everyone knew who now had it, but all inquiries focused on why you bandy your laptop so freely, why you claim someone took it when everyone knows you gave it ever so willingly, and how dare you own a laptop anyway when obviously someone will take it and who could blame them?