Brittany Higgins took to social media to give a scathing response about a new book about the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial.
An X user posted a critique of the publisher of a new book about Judge Michael Lee’s historic ruling.
The post read: “Jeez, #MelbourneUniversityPress did NOT get Brittany Higgins’ consent OR Judge Lee’s consent before flogging Lee’s defamation decision like a book, for which scammers are charging $37.” (The decision is freely available online.) What a way to take advantage of rapists.
The post continued: “I don’t know if Brittany Higgins gave her approval.”
“If you didn’t, then we can add Melbourne University Press to the long list of media outlets that have commodified and profited from your trauma.” If they DID get their consent, why didn’t any news publications think to ask them?
Mrs Higgins responded to the post with a blunt response: “The answer is no.”
Judge Michael Lee, who presided over Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial, has said he had no involvement in the project.
In his ruling in April, Judge Lee found, considering the probabilities, that Lehrmann raped fellow politician Brittany Higgins inside Parliament House in March 2019.
Brittany Higgins (pictured) took to social media to give a scathing response about a new book about the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial.
Judge Michael Lee (pictured) presided over Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial and said he was not involved in the book about the trial.
Judge Lee became a minor celebrity after presiding over the high-profile trial that was broadcast live on YouTube.
Melbourne University Press announced it would publish his judgment in a book titled He Went Back For His Hat next month.
On its website, it lists Judge Lee as the author, as well as including a brief biography.
However, in a statement, a spokesperson for the Federal Court of Australia said neither the court nor Judge Lee were involved in the book at all.
The spokesperson also noted that Judge Lee’s entire ruling is available online and free.
“The Federal Court and Judge Lee did not authorize or approve the publication of the judgment in this format, nor was Judge Lee directly involved in the content of the introduction,” the spokesperson said.
‘There are no licensing or other agreements with Judge Lee or the Court with this publisher.
The book about Judge Michael Lee’s ruling in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial will be published by Melbourne University Press next month. The book cover is in the photo.
‘Judge Lee’s full judgment is publicly available on the Federal Court website, in line with the Court’s commitment to open and accessible justice.
“With regard to the impact of this publication on any future appeal process, the responsibility lies with Melbourne University Press.”
Melbourne University Press has been contacted for comment.
The book’s title comes from a quote by Judge Lee in which he described Lehrmann’s decision to file a defamation lawsuit against Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson after criminal proceedings against her were dropped.
“Having escaped from the lions’ den, Mr. Lehrmann made the mistake of going back for his hat,” he said.
Lehrmann faced a trial in the ACT Supreme Court in 2022 after pleading not guilty to a charge of sexual intercourse without consent.
The trial was abandoned due to jury misconduct and the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the charges and plans for a retrial due to concerns for Ms Higgins’ welfare.
The book will contain a foreword by consent activist Chanel Contos.
However, Judge Lee said, through a court spokesman, that he was not involved in the content of the introduction.
Lehrmann has appealed against his loss in the defamation suit.
Network 10 has asked the court to order it to post $200,000 security – to cover its legal costs – for the appeal to go forward.
The application is opposed by Lehrmann’s lawyer, Zali Burrows, who told court on Monday that her client was receiving Centrelink benefits and could not post $200,000 bail.
“The only chance I would probably have to make money would be by going on Onlyfans or something silly like that,” Ms Burrows told the court.
