Judge Michel Chartier does 'honourable thing,' resigns after drunk driving charge
Chartier was charged with impaired driving on Sunday
Judge Michel Chartier has stepped down from the Provincial Court of Manitoba.
Chartier was charged with drunk driving on the weekend.
An RCMP spokesperson said Chartier was stopped on Highway 1 about five kilometres west of Highway 5 in the R.M. of North Cypress at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
"Public confidence in and respect for the judiciary are essential to an effective justice system. Therefore, while the resignation of Michel Chartier from the court is regrettable, by having resigned today, he has done the honourable thing, recognizing that the charges brought against him would significantly undermine public confidence in the judiciary," said a statement written on behalf of Chief Judge Champagne.
MADD Canada had expressed disappointment a judge was charged with driving under the influence.
Chartier was appointed a Judge of the Provincial Court in 2007 and Associate Chief Judge from 2009 to 2013.
He has been on administrative leave since the incident. He was released on a promise to appear in a Brandon courtroom later this month.