The independent lawyer leading the inquiry into a Manitoba judge and her naked photos has quit his post.
Guy Pratte's resignation comes after he filed a motion last week with the Federal Court arguing that the Canadian Judicial Council panel hearing the inquiry had over-stepped its bounds by becoming involved in a hearing while also presiding over it.
Pratte did not immediately return calls seeking comment and the executive director of the council would not say why Pratte stepped down.
"I am not going to comment on why he left," Norman Sabourin said Monday.
"We have accepted that resignation and we have to move forward."
A council committee is looking into the conduct of Justice Lori Douglas, whose husband uploaded sexually explicit photos of her to the Internet in 2003.
Douglas eventually went on to be named associate chief justice of the Manitoba Court of Queen's Bench.
Earlier this month, Douglas's lawyer asked the Federal Court to quash the inquiry.
Sheila Block argued that, during cross-examination of some witnesses, the lawyer acting for the committee members, George Macintosh, had used "aggressive and argumentative questions, sexist and insulting references, misstatements and distortions."
Pratte filed his own application with the court, requesting that Macintosh be prevented from asking any more questions and that previous questions be stricken from the record.
"The procedure adopted by the committee is beyond its jurisdiction, violates the [Canadian Judicial Council] bylaws and policies and ... is inconsistent with the principles of fairness," Pratte wrote.
The committee, which includes the chief justices of Alberta, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, disagreed.
In 2003, when Douglas and King were family law lawyers at the same firm, King uploaded sexually explicit photos of Douglas on a website dedicated to interracial sex. He also emailed photos to a client named Alexander Chapman and asked him to have sex with Douglas.
Chapman complained to the law firm and King settled the matter within weeks by paying Chapman $25,000 to return all the photos and to never discuss the matter.
Chapman broke that deal in 2010 and complained to the judicial council, insisting Douglas was part of the sexual harassment.
Among the allegations before the inquiry is that Douglas did not disclose the matter when she applied to be a judge.
The inquiry is also examining whether the very existence of the photos precludes Douglas from continuing in her job.
Douglas has said all along that her husband acted without her knowledge and that she should not be punished for his misdeeds. She and King are still married.
