Updated: 10th January 2018 13:01

Judicial watchdog reviews complaint against Calgary judge accused of racist remarks

Justice Kristine Eidsvik apologized on Friday for comments 'insensitive to racial minorities'

By Meghan Grant, CBC News Posted: Jan 10, 2018 9:26 AM MT Last Updated: Jan 10, 2018 9:47 AM MT

The Canadian Judicial Council is reviewing a complaint against Court of Queen's Bench Justice Kristine Eidsvik, who apologized to University of Calgary law students for making comments 'insensitive to racial minorities' during a guest lecture last week. (University of Calgary)

Meghan Grant
CBC Calgary reporter

Meghan Grant is the courts and crime reporter for CBC Calgary.

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The Canadian Judicial Council confirms it is reviewing a complaint against a Calgary judge who made comments some consider racist.

Court of Queen's Bench Justice Kristine Eidsvik was guest lecturing to a University of Calgary second-year law class last week when she told a story about being nervous in a room full of "big dark people." 

Eidsvik, the university's judge in residence, apologized to the class the next day, saying she "felt sick" about her comments.

Canada's judicial watchdog confirms it received a complaint about Eidsvik's comments on the weekend and is reviewing it. 

• Calgary judge apologizes to law students for comments 'insensitive to racial minorities'

The review will likely take several months. 

In the 2016 case of former Alberta provincial court Judge Robin Camp, the justice minister asked the council to move the complaint to a formal inquiry, which meant skipping the review panel phase of its investigation.

On Friday, the law school said it considered the incident resolved.

On Wednesday morning, a spokesperson for the university said she could not comment on whether the university was looking at removing Eidsvik from her position as judge in residence.

Eidsvik was appointed to the Court of Queen's bench in 2007.

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