Alberta Judge to Woman Deemed 'Harsh and Disrespectful': Judicial Review

 Alberta Judge to Woman Deemed 'Harsh and Disrespectful': Judicial Review

A judge in Calgary will retain his position after an investigation into a complaint from a woman who alleged she was ridiculed and humiliated during a court hearing, as stated by the Canadian Judicial Council (CJC). Following their examination of the allegations, the CJC concluded that while the complaint warranted attention, it did not satisfy the grounds necessary for the removal of Court of King's Bench Justice Earl Wilson. 
The complaint, filed on June 27 and July 10, 2024, accused Wilson of mocking the woman, preventing her from sharing her perspective, and silencing her during a hearing related to a restraining order sought by her ex-boyfriend to stop her from posting about him on social media. According to the CJC decision, the woman alleged that Wilson "berated her, even mimicked her voice and speech," and described his behavior as "bullying and humiliating." She claimed he made remarks like, "yada yada, I heard it all before," and "You are 34, go get creative with your life: go to work, study, have a hobby." The woman asserted that Wilson's conduct made her appear stalker-like, and that he seemed to joke with her ex-boyfriend while treating her unfairly.
 The CJC's review concluded that the complaint could not be dismissed, yet it did not justify Wilson's removal from office. An April 1 CJC news release stated, "Justice Wilson's interventions exceeded what is typically deemed appropriate and did not uphold the honour and dignity of the individual proceedings or the justice system as a whole." Alberta Chief Justice Kent Davidson noted in the ruling that Wilson's behavior fell short of acceptable standards and was "unnecessarily harsh, brusque, and disrespectful," pointing out that Wilson was short-tempered during the hearing but acknowledged his error. 
The review concluded that Wilson, who has been in his role for 17 years, would face disciplinary measures in a private context. Throughout the review, the CJC mentioned that Wilson offered multiple apologies. According to the decision, Wilson expressed frustration with the hearing's circumstances and stated he "did not intend for the complainant to feel berated." He admitted that he had wrongly directed his frustration at her. 

The review indicated that he recognized he was abrupt and direct with the complainant, and that his tone was hurtful, for which he expressed sincere regret. Additionally, Wilson conceded he made derogatory comments about millennials during the hearing, including remarks like, "I can't get over your generation," and "You must have more time on your hands than the rest of us do.

" He also told the woman to "make something of yourself," as per the CJC decision. The CJC noted that judges are expected to uphold civility and respect, ensuring a fair balance between both parties' rights to be heard and the efficiency of proceedings. "The reviewing member stated that Justice Wilson's comments in court did not achieve the necessary balance," the decision outlined. 
The Canadian Press.