Australian judge criticized for ordering breastfeeding mother to leave courtroom



CNN

An in Australia The judge was widely criticized for asking breast-feeding mother to leave the public gallery in the courtroom, and then defend her decision as “for granted”.

Mark Gamble, a Victorian district court judge, told a woman who was nursing her baby under the covers while watching the trial that she needed to leave because it could “distract the jury,” according to CNN affiliate 9News. .

The news network reported that the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told a local newspaper that she felt shocked and humiliated and began to cry after leaving the courtroom in Melbourne.

Naomi Hull of the Australian Breastfeeding Association said 9News she was “totally shocked” by what happened.

“It’s very disappointing to hear that things like this are still happening,” she added.

Ingrid Stitt, Minister for Early Childhood in Victoria, said she understands the state’s Attorney General will talk to the courts on the matter, CNN affiliate 7News reported.

“I mean, for heaven’s sake, it’s 2023 and women should never (feel) like they can’t actually feed their child, which is completely natural and pretty easy,” she said.

“We need to be able to make women feel that there is nothing wrong with taking care of their child, including feeding him in public.”

Gamble later explained his decision to the jury, who were not in the courtroom when he asked the woman to leave.

“Everything should be clear, members of the jury,” he said, according to 9News.

“I said the following and I read from the transcript: “Madam, you will not be allowed to breastfeed your baby in court. I’m sorry. I will have to ask you to leave. At the very least, it will distract the jury. Thank you,” he added.

In 2016, the Australian Parliament changed its rules to allow female legislators to breastfeed their babies in the Chamber, followed in 2017 by the then Queensland Senator. Larisa Waters became first person to breastfeed in federal parliament.

According to Australian Breastfeeding Association“A mother’s right to breastfeed her child is protected by law both at the federal level and in every state and territory,” and under the nation’s federal sex discrimination act of 1984, it is illegal to discriminate against a person directly or indirectly on the basis of breastfeeding. .

In Victoria, discrimination based on breastfeeding is illegal in the areas of “housing, clubs, education, employment, goods and services, sale and transfer of land and sports,” the association adds, although it does not specifically mention courtrooms.

CNN has asked the Victorian County Court for comment.