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‘Judging Sexual Assault’ the focus of SACPA session

Nov 18, 2016 | 11:31 AM

LETHBRIDGE – Rebuilding the confidence of survivors of sexual assault in the justice system, was the challenge discussed by University of Lethbridge professor, Dr. Caroline Hodes, at SACPA (Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs) this week.

She noted the case of Justice Robin Camp, who could potentially be removed from the bench because of statements he made to a sexual assault trial complainant. He also acquitted the accused, but the verdict was overturned on appeal and a new trial was ordered.

“A lot of commentators have said that this will put a chilling effect on the reporting and the disclosure of sexual violence,” stated Hodes, before speaking to those gathered for the session Thursday (Nov. 17) afternoon.

Hodes was quick to note however, that there are initiatives already in place that should at least provide some balance.

“I do have faith that there are a number of campaigns out there – the ‘I Believe You’ campaign in particular – where there is qualitative and quantitative data out there, that support that because of that campaign more people in Alberta have been disclosing and reporting sexual violence, so I’m hoping campaigns like that will counter-act the effects of things like this happening in the criminal justice system,” explained Hodes.

As for what should happen to Camp and others who make similar comments, Hodes feels there is a potential answer.

“I would like to believe that people can change and can learn and can sort of develop as they go along in their professions and their careers, but at the same time, this is a pattern of behaviour among the judiciary more generally, as we can see from the other Alberta court judges that have been criticized for their comments.

“Perhaps what this calls for is much more training, much more kind of mandatory courses, to bring awareness to what developments in the law have been to judges,” Hodes said. “Judging is a profession, if you have 10 years of experience as a lawyer, but you’ve been in commercial litigation or something of that nature and suddenly – as Justice Camp was – put on a domestic violence court, you kind of have to switch gears a little bit to be able to learn the law.”