Rhiannon Russell, Whitehorse Star
A Yukon Supreme Court judge has apologized for not being removed from a courtroom as soon as he realized an inmate was naked during a video appearance from jail.
Justice Leigh Gower’s apology to Michael Nehass was prompted by a complaint by the man’s father, Russ Nehass, who filed a complaint with the Canadian Judicial Council.
“I sincerely apologize to Mr. Nehass for the embarrassment I caused to him by not acting to improve the situation sooner,” Gower is quoted as saying in a Nov. 18 letter from the council to Russ Nehass.
“I fully appreciate how he views this incident as an affront to his dignity.”
In his complaint in July, Russ Nehass said his son was subjected to “inhumane and degrading public exposure” in January, when he appeared naked in court via video from the Whitehorse Correctional Centre.
He said Gower and the lawyers who were present disregarded his son’s dignity and human rights.
A Yukon Supreme Court judge has apologized for not being removed from a courtroom as soon as he realized an inmate was naked during a video appearance from jail.
Justice Leigh Gower’s apology to Michael Nehass was prompted by a complaint by the man’s father, Russ Nehass, who filed a complaint with the Canadian Judicial Council.
“I sincerely apologize to Mr. Nehass for the embarrassment I caused to him by not acting to improve the situation sooner,” Gower is quoted as saying in a Nov. 18 letter from the council to Russ Nehass.
“I fully appreciate how he views this incident as an affront to his dignity.”
In his complaint in July, Russ Nehass said his son was subjected to “inhumane and degrading public exposure” in January, when he appeared naked in court via video from the Whitehorse Correctional Centre.
He said Gower and the lawyers who were present disregarded his son’s dignity and human rights.