A Regina lawyer has received a two-month suspension from practice after admitting to sexually harassing a court worker by touching her inappropriately during court proceedings. The Law Society of Saskatchewan imposed the suspension, mandated completion of a professional boundaries course, and ordered costs of $5,870.
R.S. pleaded guilty to professional misconduct related to a July 2022 incident in which he made unwelcome comments on a court worker’s appearance and subsequently touched her buttock in the Regina Provincial Court. The hearing committee found R.S.’s actions violated Rules 6.3 (Harassment and Discrimination) and 2.1 (Integrity) of the Code of Professional Conduct.
Details of the misconduct
According to the agreed statement of facts, on July 18, 2022, R.S. complimented court worker Ms. X on her appearance, saying she had “lost weight” and was “looking good,” comments she found uncomfortable. Later that day, after Ms. X assisted R.S. by photocopying documents, he reached out and touched her buttock as she left the courtroom, claiming it was a gesture of thanks.
A deputy sheriff witnessed the interaction. Ms. X, who felt “disrespected, humiliated, and embarrassed,” resigned from her position within a month, ending a 25-year career at the courthouse. She formally filed a complaint with the Law Society in August 2022.
History of disciplinary issues
The panel noted R.S.’s disciplinary history was an aggravating factor, marking this as his fourth finding of conduct unbecoming. Previous disciplinary actions included dilatory practice in 2007, improper financial dealings with a client in 2012, and threatening regulatory action against an opposing party to gain leverage in a civil matter in 2024.
Arguments on penalty
Counsel for the Law Society argued for a two-month suspension, emphasizing the gravity of sexual harassment, the power imbalance between R.S. and Ms. X, and the negative impact on public confidence in the legal profession. The Law Society also cited comparable cases, including a Manitoba decision involving unwanted physical contact with a student, to justify the suspension length.
In contrast, R.S. argued for a less severe sanction, suggesting a reprimand and an apology letter. He characterized the incident as a momentary lapse without malicious intent and cited potential financial hardship and health impacts. However, the panel rejected these arguments, emphasizing the need for a meaningful deterrent.
Panel’s decision
The panel underscored the seriousness of the misconduct, noting it undermined professional integrity and public trust. The decision emphasized that sexual harassment in the legal profession must be met with significant disciplinary measures to ensure workplace safety and uphold ethical standards.
While acknowledging mitigating factors — such as his early guilty plea and cooperation — the panel found his attempts to minimize the misconduct troubling. The panel described his comments downplaying the incident as indicative of a deeper lack of understanding of professional boundaries.
Ultimately, the panel concluded that a two-month suspension, combined with remedial education, was necessary to reflect the misconduct’s seriousness, protect the public, and reinforce professional standards.
The suspension begins 30 days from the decision to allow an orderly transition of his legal matters.
Costs and remedial actions
R.S. was also ordered to pay $5,870 in costs by Aug. 18, 2025, rejecting his claim that the costs were excessive due to the complainant’s alleged lack of cooperation.
The panel emphasized that disciplinary measures are not purely punitive but necessary to uphold public confidence and professional integrity, highlighting that a lesser penalty would undermine public trust in the legal profession’s ability to self-regulate.
For more information, see Law Society of Saskatchewan v. Simaluk, 2025 SKLSS 2 (CanLII).
