OTTAWA – After a lenient lower court sentencing of a pedophile, the hosts of TQS program L’Avocat et le diable teed off on the judge last May 31. And, they went to far, says the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.
The hosts of L’Avocat et le diable said they thought Justice Lise Côté’s decision was incorrect and suggested that she be resign or be forced to step down, according to the CBSC release. They and their callers referred to her as “crazy”, “dishonourable”, “a disgrace” and went so far as to suggest that she endure a similar sexual assault.
The CBSC received a complaint from a viewer who was concerned that these comments were unacceptable for broadcast. TQS argued that the hosts were simply playing “devil’s advocate” by criticizing the decision of the Court of Appeal. The Quebec Panel, however, agreed with the complainant. While it acknowledged that broadcasters may criticize government and judicial actions and decisions, it concluded that the level of personal attacks on Justice Côté violated the “full, fair and proper presentation” clause of the CAB Code of Ethics, according to the CAB.
TQS also violated the CAB Violence Code because one of the hosts advocated that [translation] “the judge should get raped and see how that is.”
