Walter Sofronoff had no ‘corrupt, dishonest or malicious motive’ in leaking Lehrmann inquiry report, lawyer argues

<p>Former Queensland judge ‘believed he was acting in the public good’ when he leaked report on Bruce Lehrmann’s prosecution to journalists, court hears</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/jul/21/australia-news-live-tasmania-election-labor-liberal-coalition-anthoney-albanese-sussan-ley-south-australia-algal-bloom-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Former Queensland judge Walter Sofronoff sincerely believed he was acting for the public good when he leaked his report on the prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann to two journalists before it was made public, the federal court has heard.</p><p>Hearings began on Monday into Sofronoff’s legal challenge to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/20/walter-sofronoff-to-challenge-serious-corrupt-conduct-finding-bruce-lehrmann-inquiry-ntwnfb">findings by the Australian Capital Territory’s corruption watchdog</a> that he had engaged in “serious corrupt conduct” by leaking the report of his investigation into the Lehrmann case to Janet Albrechtsen at the Australian and Elizabeth Byrne at the ABC, ahead of its official release.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=copyembed">Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/21/walter-sofronoff-bruce-lehrmann-inquiry-report-leak-court-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>