A judge in Canada, who asked a woman in a rape case why she couldn’t “just keep her knees together,” is facing removal from the bench for his conduct.
CNN reported that a judicial council hearing has been called to determine if Federal Court Judge Robin Camp should be removed from his post.
According to records of the trial, the 19-year-old woman said she was raped over a bathroom sink during a house party. Camp asked her why she didn't "skew her pelvis" or push her bottom into the sink to avoid penetration, according to court records. He then openly wondered, "Why couldn't you just keep your knees together?"
The 64-year-old judge also added that “young wom[e]n want to have sex, particularly if they're drunk.” He also said “some sex and pain sometimes go together ... that's not necessarily a bad thing."
Camp acquitted the man charged with the crime. The verdict was overturned on appeal and a new trial is scheduled for November.
Council members said Camp “engaged in stereotypical or biased thinking in relation to a sexual assault complainant.”
During testimony Friday, Camp, who was born in South Africa, said he had a “non-existent” knowledge of Canadian criminal law. He said that during his legal career his focus was on contract and bankruptcy cases.
He apologized to the woman for his comments and called them “rude and insulting.”
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