Bruce Lehrmann judge says he has no links to published book of judgment

Justice Michael Lee has dropped a bombshell after it was revealed a Melbourne publisher plans to print his judgment in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial as a book.

Justice Michael Lee, who presided over the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial, has said he had no involvement in a project which will see his landmark judgment published as a book.

In his judgment handed down in April, Justice Lee found – on the balance of probabilities – that Lehrmann raped fellow political staffer Brittany Higgins inside Parliament House in March 2019.

Justice Lee became a minor celebrity after he presided over the high-profile trial which was live streamed on YouTube.

Melbourne University Press announced it would next month publish his judgment as a book titled He Went Back For His Hat.

On its website, it lists Justice Lee as the author, as well as including a brief biography.

Justice Michael Lee presided over Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial. Picture: Supplied

The book which will be published by Melbourne University Press. Picture: Supplied

However, in a statement, a Federal Court of Australia spokesperson said neither the court nor Justice Lee were at all involved in the book.

The spokesperson also pointed out Justice Lee’s full judgment is available online and free.

“The Federal Court and Justice Lee did not authorise or approve the publication of the judgment in this format, nor was Justice Lee directly engaged in the content of the introduction,” the spokesperson said.

“No licensing or other arrangements with Justice Lee or the Court are in place with this publisher.

“Justice Lee’s full judgment is publicly available on the Federal Court’s 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, responsibility rests with Melbourne University Press.”

Melbourne University Press have been approached for comment.

The book’s title comes from a quote by Justice Lee in which he described Lehrmann’s decision to pursue a defamation suit against Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson after criminal proceedings against him were abandoned.

“Having escaped the lion’s den, Mr Lehrmann made the mistake of going back for his hat,” he said.

Lehrmann faced trial in the ACT Supreme Court in 2022 after pleading not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent.

The trial was abandoned due to juror misconduct and the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the charges and plans for a retrial due to concerns for Ms Higgins’ welfare.

Bruce Lehrmann lost his defamation suit after Justice Lee found, on the balance of probabilities, that he raped Brittany Higgins. Picture: NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

The book will contain a foreword by consent activist Chanel Contos.

However, Justice Lee said, via a court spokesperson, that he was not involved in the content in the introduction.

Lehrmann has lodged an appeal against his defamation suit loss.

Network 10 has asked the court to order that he lodge a $200,000 security – to cover their legal costs – in order for the appeal to go ahead.

The application is being opposed by Lehrmann’s solicitor Zali Burrows, who on Monday told a court that her client was on Centrelink benefits and unable to pay a $200,000 surety.

“The only shot he’d probably ever have in making money is by going on OnlyFans or something silly like that,” Ms Burrows told the court.