Adelaide magistrate fired after sexual harassment inquiry

Milazzo’s elimination from workplace comes 18 months after InDaily first revealed that Milazzo’s conduct was being investigated by the Judicial Conduct Commissioner and Chief Justice – prompting the state’s first ever judicial conduct panel investigation.

Chief Justice of the Peace Mary-Louise Hribal this afternoon introduced that Milazzo had been formally faraway from workplace by order of the Governor following a suggestion of the panel.

She apologised to the 4 ladies who have been “harmed by the conduct of a Justice of the Peace of this Court docket” and vowed to hearken to what they needed to say.

“The report of the Judicial Conduct Panel (the Panel) into Mr Simon Milazzo has been tabled in Parliament, discovering the complaints in opposition to him proved and recommending his elimination as a Justice of the Peace,” she stated.

“The Governor has acted on that opinion and eliminated the Justice of the Peace from Workplace.”

In a report tabled in parliament this afternoon, the judicial conduct panel set as much as examine Milazzo’s conduct acknowledged it had “accepted proof that inappropriate conduct with sexual connotations occurred in relation to 4 ladies over a interval which spanned practically eight years”.

The panel discovered that the 68-year-old, who beforehand labored within the civil jurisdiction of the Adelaide Magistrates Court docket, had “not expressed any real understanding of or perception into his behaviour in direction of them”.

“The Justice of the Peace himself has not expressed any real regret in respect of the three most critical allegations and has in impact denied outright any improper conduct within the type of sexual harassment in relation to both of these witnesses,” the panel’s report states.

“The Panel notes that the entire conduct proved in opposition to the Justice of the Peace occurred within the office both in court docket associated or casual settings associated to workers who have been junior to the Justice of the Peace.

“Because of this the Panel is of the view that the Courts Administration Authority wouldn’t be capable of discharge its obligation of care to all workers if the Justice of the Peace is permitted to return to the office.

“For these causes it’s the Panel’s opinion that elimination of the Justice of the Peace is justified.”

Milazzo’s elimination from workplace comes 18 months after former choose’s affiliate Alice Bitmead first spoke to InDaily alleging she was made to really feel like a “sexual object” throughout her interactions with Milazzo at a piece dinner and through workplace hours in 2018.

Bitmead instructed InDaily that Milazzo questioned whether or not her accomplice “fulfilled” her and made feedback alluding to “how a lot he wish to have a relationship” together with her.

Bitmead, who was 25-years-old on the time on the time of the alleged harassment and one 12 months into her profession as a choose’s affiliate, additionally stated that she tried elevating a criticism with senior judicial officers within the months afterwards, however by no means acquired an apology.

“It undoubtedly made me really feel like I wasn’t valued as being a authorized practitioner… and that my worth within the eyes of that Justice of the Peace was purely as a sexual object,” she instructed InDaily on the time.

In coming ahead together with her story, Bitmead prompted an investigation by former Judicial Conduct Commissioner Ann Vanstone and Chief Justice Chris Kourakis.

Someday after InDaily first revealed Bitmead’s claims, Hribal banned Milazzo from sitting in court docket, however he continued to receives a commission whereas Vanstone performed her investigation.

I’m very sorry that they’ve been harmed by the conduct of a Justice of the Peace of this Court docket

In June final 12 months, Vanstone introduced that 4 different ladies had come ahead with complaints about Milazzo, prompting then Lawyer-Normal Vickie Chapman to nominate a judicial conduct panel – the primary in South Australia’s historical past – to research the allegations.

The panel had the powers of a Royal Fee and was headed by former Court docket of Attraction president Patricia Kelly KC, alongside retired Supreme Court docket Choose David Bleby SC and former Australian Medical Affiliation vice-president Dr Chris Moy.

In Could this 12 months, Milazzo misplaced his bid to have the panel’s investigation quashed.

“I wish to acknowledge the energy and braveness of the victims who’ve made complaints and given proof earlier than the Panel,” Hribal stated in an announcement this afternoon.

“I’m very sorry that they’ve been harmed by the conduct of a Justice of the Peace of this Court docket.

“While I’ve not but met with the entire victims, I wish to hearken to, and study from, what they need to say, in the event that they want to converse with me.”

Chief Justice Chris Kourakis stated judicial officers would proceed to partake in applications about harassment to know the “nature, drivers and impacts of such behaviour”.

“Energy imbalances have to be guarded in opposition to,” he stated.

“Bullying, harassment, discrimination or victimisation of any form can’t be tolerated.”

Lawyer-Normal Kyam Maher instructed parliament this afternoon that Milazzo stopped getting paid on November 8.

“The method type the date the primary criticism was made to now was complicated and prolonged,” he stated.

“I’ve little doubt that the method was troublesome for the complainants and witnesses.

“Their braveness and persistence all through this course of deserves acknowledgement.”