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Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann finds himself with dwindling options after facing a significant setback in his defamation case. Meanwhile, Brittany Higgins, the woman at the center of the allegations, is advocating for systemic change.
Lehrmann had pursued an appeal to the High Court to contest previous rulings by two courts. These rulings found that Network Ten did not defame him when they aired an interview with Higgins on The Project in February 2021, where she made her allegations public.
Higgins expressed her relief after the High Court decided on Thursday to deny Lehrmann’s request for special leave to appeal.
“The High Court of Australia’s decision today provides a sense of closure to an arduous and distressing chapter,” Higgins conveyed through her Instagram account.
She emphasized her dedication to championing reforms within the legal system to ensure victim-survivors receive the care and respect they deserve.
Lehrmann denies the allegation and says no criminal findings have been made against him.
The High Court’s decision means his appeal never got to a full hearing.
Typically, the court refuses special leave if it thinks an appeal does not grapple with a major question of Australian law.
Ten declined to comment on the outcome, while Lehrmann, through his lawyer Zali Burrows, did not respond to questions.
In April 2024, Federal Court Justice Michael Lee first dismissed the 30-year-old’s case against Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson, describing it as an “omnishambles”.
The judge’s findings, including that Lehrmann raped Higgins on the balance of probabilities, were upheld on appeal by the Full Federal Court in December.
The two had been out drinking with colleagues in 2019 before the pair wound up at Parliament House in the office of their then-boss Senator Linda Reynolds.
Higgins has alleged that Lehrmann raped her there.
He has consistently repeatedly denied any sexual conduct occurred, saying he returned during the early hours to write notes about French submarine contracts.
This claim was roundly rejected by Lee, saying the 30-year-old had been seen kissing Higgins, whom he found attractive.
“Now does a man in a situation like that have French submarine contracts on his mind or does he have something else on his mind?” the judge quipped.
A criminal case against Lehrmann in the ACT was derailed due to juror misconduct.
A further trial was ruled out and no findings have been made against him in a court of criminal law.
The failed High Court bid could lead to Lehrmann being forced into bankruptcy due to court orders he pay a $2 million legal bill to Ten.