Complaints against judge in Ukabam case paused due to appeal

(WARNING: This story contains details that may be disturbing to some readers)

The Canadian Judicial Council has paused its review of a Saskatchewan judge until an appeal is heard in the case that resulted in the complaints against him.

Two women filed complaints against Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Brian Scherman after he acquitted Sylvester Ukabam of seven charges of sexual assault in May.

Five women alleged that Ukabam — in his capacity as a doctor, gastroenterologist and hepatologist — sexually assaulted them during exams.

Four of the women said Ukabam touched or inserted a finger in their vagina when it wasn’t called for. One complainant said he’d touched her breasts.

Scherman said in his written decision that the women were mistaken about what they perceived happened.

The woman who filed the second complaint against Scherman says his written decision includes sexist myths about women by giving an impression women allow their emotions to cloud their recollection of events.

The Crown announced in June it was appealing the decision.

A spokesperson for the judicial council said the complaint process had been paused because issues that gave rise to the complaints may be addressed in the appeal.

— With files from The Canadian Press