Alberta judge who humiliated woman was disrespectful, says judicial council

Canada's judicial review board says a Calgary judge who humiliated a woman during a court hearing was harsh and disrespectful.

The board's decision says Court of King's Bench Justice Earl Wilson admitted his tone during a 2024 hearing about a restraining order was hurtful and that he is sorry.

A complaint to the Canadian Judicial Council says Wilson berated the woman, mimicked her voice and said negative things about her and her ex-boyfriend's generation. 

The board says Wilson told the woman to "get creative" with her life and "make something" of herself.

Wilson says he allowed his frustrations with the application and the underlying behaviour of the man and the woman to influence the way he addressed them. He says while he doesn't believe that he mimicked the woman's speech, his tone was hurtful and for that he sincerely apologizes.

The board says Wilson shouldn't be removed from the bench but needs to behave himself and maintain civility and respect in court.