Former Queensland judge Walter Sofronoff KC is appealing a finding by the ACT Integrity Commission that he engaged in serious corrupt conduct during his inquiry into the prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann.
The Commission investigated Mr Sofronoff over his disclosures of confidential material to two journalists in 2023 before the material was officially released by the ACT Government.
The investigation report released on Wednesday stated the conduct of the Board “significantly compromised the integrity of the inquiry constituting a breach of public trust” and “gave rise to an an apprehension of bias that affected his findings” about former Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold.
It stated the disclosures were “dishonestly concealed” from Mr Drumgold and Chief Minister Andrew Barr, “which prevented them from taking preventative action”.
Mr Sofronoff claimed he had acted in the public interest by ensuring the media was adequately informed about the issues being raised in the inquiry.
The commission concluded he had not acted in good faith, and had undermined the integrity of the Board’s processes “and the fairness and probity of its proceedings to such an extent as to have been likely to have threatened public confidence in the integrity of that aspect of public administration”.
Mr Sofronoff has since filed an application to the Federal Court to challenge the lawfulness of the commission’s report.
Mr Lehrmann faced a criminal trial in the ACT in 2022 for the alleged rape of then colleague Brittany Higgins in 2019. The trial collapsed because of juror misconduct, and there was no re-trial due to concern for Ms Higgins’ health.
Mr Sofronoff was President of the Queensland Court of Appeal from 2017 to 2022, and Solicitor-General of Queensland from 2005 to 2014.
Read the report here.
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