Woman was harassed by serving SA judge, Equal Opportunity Commissioner confirms, correcting report on legal profession

Just days after its release, a report into sexual harassment in the legal profession has been corrected – to accuse a currently serving SA judicial officer of improper behaviour.

Equal Opportunity Commissioner Jodeen Carney has corrected the report into sexual harassment within the legal profession and judiciary.

A serving SA judicial officer committed one of the acts of harassment alleged by a report into the legal profession’s “disturbing, appalling” sexual and bullying behaviour.

On Friday, Commissioner for Equal Opportunity Jodeen Carney said the Review of Harassment within the Legal Profession had been “corrected”.

She said a footnote – stating the incidents of harassment referred to were not perpetrated by sitting judicial officers – had been deleted.

“I have been contacted by a survey respondent who has told me that one of the incidents she referred to, and which was subsequently referred to in the report, did involve a sitting judicial officer,” she said.

“The review team inferred from the initial response that the matter did not involve a current judicial officer – that is not the case.

“I commend this woman for contacting me about this matter, and encourage others to do so if they wish.

“I do not propose to provide further details, given assurances of confidentiality made to survey respondents.”

Complaints about judges, made in the report, including assertions one told a woman “I would like to throw you to the floor and f--- you now, I love strong women”.

Another person reported a magistrate sending sexually explicit text messages to her while court was in session and cases were being heard.

Ms Carney said the deletion of the footnote did not “alter the substance of any of the case studies or respondents cited” in the report.

Chief Justice Chris Kourakis has established a dedicated email address for complaints about judicial officers.

The correction comes after the Courts Administration Authority said, in its public response, the report “did not detail incidences of harassment perpetrated by any sitting judicial officer”.

On Friday, Chief Justice Chris Kourakis said he was “disappointed” to hear the report included “complaints made about serving and retired judicial officers”.

He announced the creation of an email address – [e-mail] – for people to report harassment complaints, either anonymously or by identifying themselves.

“It is important that victims of sexual offending or sexual harassment by judicial officers be given an opportunity to tell their story to the Chief Justice or the principal judicial officer of the court concerned,” he said.

“Any offending by judicial officers must be eliminated … judicial officers must exemplify the respectful behaviours which the community expects.

“Any form of harassment is unacceptable.”

Chief Justice Kourakis said persons wishing to register a complaint could meet personally with him, and have a support person or legal counsel present.

He said he had spoken with SA Police to ensure “an easily accessible process for reporting the complaint”.