OTTAWA - Canada’s top group for lawyers say the CBC went too far in reporting details about a Manitoba judge and online photos of her in bondage outfits.
The Manitoba Bar Association has filed a letter of complaint with CBC president Hubert Lacroix over their handling of the story of Madame Justice Lori Douglas.
Ken Mandzuik, president of the Manitoba Bar, writes that CBC’s justification for running the story, that the purpose was to show the process of appointing judges, is false. Mandzuik claims that CBC was more interested in the racy, sexy side of the story.
“The emphasis of the story and the inappropriately graphic details of the allegations simply go too far, especially given the potentially damaging effect these allegations will undoubtedly have on the people involved,” wrote Mandzuik.
The story, broadcast on radio and television and posted online, revealed details of the naked bondage photos of Justice Douglas and offers made by her lawyer husband Jack King for other men to have sex with her.
The salacious details were brought to light by complaints filed by with the Canadian Judicial Council and the Manitoba Law Society by Alex Chapman.
Chapman told QMI Agency that King, who was acting as his lawyer at the time, pressured him to have sex with Douglas and showed him erotic photos of her.
Chapman was paid $25,000 in a settlement that included a confidentiality clause and a promise to destroy any correspondence and photos he had received from King.
In addition to his complaints with the law society and judicial council, Chapman has launched $67-million lawsuit.
In his complaint to CBC, Mandzuik wrote that the public broadcaster did more damage to the reputation of the judiciary than the naked online photos.
“I know many of my colleagues in the Bar share my personal disappointment with CBC over not only the decision to run with the story, but the way in which it was reported. It beggars belief that this reporting was seen as worthy of the CBC.”
Justice Douglas has stepped aside from her duties while the complaint before the judicial council is dealt with.
