A judge has kicked out a breastfeeding mother and her child from a Melbourne court, raising concerns about the mother feeding her baby being a ‘distraction’ to jurors.
On Thursday, the mother was feeding her child and observing a matter in the Victorian County Court when judge Mark Gamble addressed her directly saying, “Madam you will not be permitted to breastfeed a baby in court.”
“It will be a distraction and I’ll have to ask you to leave,” the judge said, according to The Age.
While the woman did what the judge asked and left the courtroom, doctors and advocates have spoken out against the incident, calling it unacceptable.
The Herald Sun reported that the woman did not wish to be identified, but was deeply upset by being told to leave and said she felt “humiliated”. She had been in the courtroom to support the alleged victims during the case being heard.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women are protected by anti-discrimination laws in public areas including work, schools, universities, shops or rental properties.
However, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission’s website isn’t clear on whether the anti-discrimination laws apply to courts.
Judges are immune from civil liability on the basis of promoting independence and the County Court declined to comment.
Source: Melbourne judge tells breastfeeding woman to leave courtroom
I hope this poor mum formally complains to the Vic Human Rights Commission. The judge needs some “sensitivity” training- imagine if he told any other protected characteristic “they” were distracting.