Bruce Lehrmann judge’s surprising next move after landmark judgment

Justice Michael Lee, who became a minor celebrity after he presided over the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial, isn’t finished with his landmark judgment.

Justice Michael Lee’s landmark judgment in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case will be published as a book after the Federal Court judge became a minor celebrity in the case that he described as an “omnishambles”.

The book, titled He Went Back For His Hat, will be published next month according to Melbourne University Press.

Justice Lee was praised for his even-handedness and humour as he presided over the high-profile multimillion-dollar trial that was live streamed via YouTube.

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

His judgment will be published as a book. Picture: Supplied

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

Justice Lee’s book will contain a foreword by consent activist Chanel Contos.

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.

Originally published as Bruce Lehrmann judge’s surprising next move after landmark judgment