{"id":1517,"date":"2026-05-15T02:43:57","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T02:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/?p=1517"},"modified":"2026-05-15T02:43:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T02:43:57","slug":"victorian-magistrate-rodney-higgins-cleared-of-wrongdoing-over-relationship-with-court-clerk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/edmpackz.com\/?p=1517","title":{"rendered":"Victorian magistrate Rodney Higgins cleared of wrongdoing over relationship with court clerk \u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"Article_layout__1pl0i\">\n<div class=\"ArticleHeadline_container__cAj5Q Article_head__D5qU4\" data-component=\"ArticleHeadline\">\n<div class=\"Article_headContent__PNoau\">\n<div class=\"ArticleHeadlineTitle_container__f00HU Article_headTitle__EIGwR\" data-chartbeat-authors=\"[]\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"\">\n<figure id=\"12133618\" class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL Figure_figure__xLyBy Figure_docImage__DSvk4\" data-print=\"inline-media\" data-component=\"Figure\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/imageproxy\/12133618\">\n<div class=\"Figure_content__8xRH4\">\n<div class=\"Figure_content__8xRH4\">\n<div class=\"FigureContent_content__GnImC\">\n<div class=\"ContentImage_ratio__0yYeG\">\n<div class=\"AspectRatio_container__FC_XH\" data-component=\"AspectRatioContainer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\" src=\"https:\/\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/01bb812584c790db34a73bf4801ea9e6?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&amp;cropH=430&amp;cropW=763&amp;xPos=2&amp;yPos=217&amp;width=862&amp;height=485\" sizes=\"100vw\" alt=\"A middle-aged man in a red-and-white shirt smiles happily with a younger woman who is wearing a white top.\" data-component=\"Image\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"Figure_caption__fS2lN\" data-component=\"Figure__figcaption\">\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">Victorian Magistrate Rodney Higgins was engaged to court clerk Ashleigh Petrie.\u00a0<cite>(Facebook)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"Article_layout__1pl0i Article_hidePrint__yWjxi\">\n<div class=\"ShareBanner_container__OX63I Article_main__wLtNk\" data-component=\"ShareBanner\">\n<div class=\"ShareBanner_addressShareBar__gSRSJ AddressShareBar_addressShareBar__yv8K2\" data-component=\"AddressShareBar\">\n<div id=\"pageURL\" class=\"AddressShareBar_address__D3ZaM AddressShareBar_showButton__r3mTa\" tabindex=\"-1\" role=\"button\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-label=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2020-04-08\/victorian-magistrate-rodney-higgins-cleared-of-wrongdoing\/12133582\"><\/div>\n<p><button class=\"Button_btn___qFSk AddressShareBar_button__m_1Rm ShareBanner_addressShareBarButton__H6aan Button_filled__Z0XIL Button_hasIcon__G3VLB Button_hasText__gfeBI Button_iconLeft__6d9H_\" role=\"button\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Copy link\" data-component=\"Button\" aria-describedby=\"pageURL\"><\/button><span class=\"AddressShareBar_indicator___px0_\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Link copied<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ShareBanner_actionButtons__gL_n0\"><button class=\"Button_root__UZ8td Button_secondary__Vld8_ Button_primaryTextVariant__Hhk3I Button_large__OX1mV Button_withIcon__Znha0 Button_withGap__va3j2 ShareBanner_shareButton__Ngjqb ShareButton_shareButton__r_dH1\" role=\"button\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share this article\"><span class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Typography_sizeMobile14__u7TGe Typography_sizeDesktop16__zyLf4 Typography_lineHeightDesktop16__eRkjh Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\"><span class=\"ShareButton_buttonTextLong__LRMeU\">Share\u00a0article<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"Article_layout__1pl0i\">\n<div class=\"ArticleWeb_article__jRLK1 Article_main__wLtNk Article_hasSidebars__HFpa0\">\n<div class=\"engagement_target__kiIVK ArticleRender_article__RdZk2\">\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">A Victorian magistrate who was in a relationship with a court clerk has been cleared of wrongdoing by the Judicial Commission of Victoria.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_floatRight__nfR_t\">\n<section class=\"KeyPoints_section__ulBii KeyPoints_borders__MdrgD embed-keypoints_keyPoints__lAVfS\" role=\"contentinfo\" aria-label=\"key points\" data-component=\"KeyPoints\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/teaser\/12134092\">\n<h2 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B Typography_sizeMobile18__eJCIB Typography_sizeDesktop20___6qCS Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop24__Fh_y5 Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_black__9qnZ1 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s\" data-component=\"Heading\">Key points:<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"List_unordered__yNZx8\" role=\"list\" data-component=\"List\">\n<li type=\"unordered\">Shadow Attorney General Ed Donoghue made three allegations, including that Rodney Higgins lacked independence due to his relationship<\/li>\n<li type=\"unordered\">He complained that the appointment of Mr Higgins was political, as he ran as the Labor candidate in the 2014 election<\/li>\n<li type=\"unordered\">The Judicial Commission dismissed the complaint in its entirety<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<div id=\"article-key-points-after\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Magistrate Rodney Higgins and Ashleigh Petrie became engaged in October last year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Their relationship attracted extensive media coverage and she died of a suspected suicide later that month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Before Ms Petrie&#8217;s death, Shadow Attorney General Edward O&#8217;Donohue made a complaint against Mr Higgins to the Judicial Commission of Victoria.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">He accused Mr Higgins of lacking judicial independence in relation to his decision-making during the relationship with Ms Petrie, an allegation that was based on media reports.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_floatRight__nfR_t LegacyWysiwyg_wysiwyg___2JFa\" title=\"24-hour counselling\" data-component=\"LegacyWysiwyg\" data-print=\"inline-media\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/teaser\/6597182\">\n<h2 class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP Heading_heading__VGa5B heading_heading__kjfxC Heading_default__Z3p_p Typography_sizeMobile18__eJCIB Typography_sizeDesktop20___6qCS Typography_lineHeightMobile24__crkfh Typography_lineHeightDesktop24__Fh_y5 Typography_marginBottomMobileSmall__6wx7m Typography_marginBottomDesktopSmall__CboX4 Typography_bold__FqafP Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx Typography_normalise__u5o1s\" data-component=\"Heading\">If you or anyone you know needs help:<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowVisible__N2zKU\">\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"http:\/\/www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\">Suicide Call Back Service<\/a>\u00a0on 1300 659 467<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"http:\/\/www.lifeline.org.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\">Lifeline<\/a>\u00a0on 13 11 14<\/li>\n<li>Aboriginal &amp; Torres Strait Islander crisis support line\u00a0<a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.13yarn.org.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-component=\"Link\">13YARN<\/a>\u00a0on 13 92 76<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kidshelp.com.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\">Kids Helpline<\/a>\u00a0on 1800 551 800<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondblue.org.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\">Beyond Blue<\/a>\u00a0on 1300 224 636<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/headspace.org.au\/\" data-component=\"Link\">Headspace<\/a>\u00a0on 1800 650 890<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/au.reachout.com\/\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/externallink\/10971516\">ReachOut<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0<a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/au.reachout.com\/\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/externallink\/10971516\">au.reachout.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mensline.org.au\/Home.html\" data-component=\"Link\">MensLine Australia<\/a>\u00a0on 1300 789 978<\/li>\n<li><a class=\"Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/qlife.org.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-component=\"Link\">QLife 1800 184 527<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Concerns were also raised about his alcohol use, in particular the consumption of alcohol at Crown Casino.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The Opposition also questioned whether the appointment of Mr Higgins as a magistrate was political, given he was the Labor candidate for the seat of Shepparton in 2014.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The Andrews Labor Government appointed Mr Higgins to the Magistrates Court of Victoria in September 2017.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The commission said it carefully considered the three allegations and dismissed the complaint in its entirety.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"12133620\" class=\"ContentAlignment_marginBottom__4H_6E ContentAlignment_overflowAuto__c1_IL ContentAlignment_outdentDesktop__ijbiK Figure_figure__xLyBy Figure_docImage__DSvk4\" data-print=\"inline-media\" data-component=\"Figure\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/imageproxy\/12133620\">\n<div class=\"Figure_content__8xRH4\">\n<div class=\"Figure_content__8xRH4\">\n<div class=\"FigureContent_content__GnImC\">\n<div class=\"ContentImage_ratio__0yYeG\">\n<div class=\"AspectRatio_container__FC_XH\" data-component=\"AspectRatioContainer\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\" src=\"https:\/\/live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au\/f13bb28612efa29e0df9497fe019c845?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&amp;cropH=663&amp;cropW=994&amp;xPos=0&amp;yPos=45&amp;width=862&amp;height=575\" sizes=\"100vw\" alt=\"A screenshot of the front page of the Herald Sun on October 9. 2019 showing a story about Ashleigh Petrie and Rod Higgins.\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"Figure_caption__fS2lN\" data-component=\"Figure__figcaption\">\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">The Herald Sun newspaper ran multiple stories about the pair&#8217;s relationship.\u00a0<cite>(ABC News: Rachel Clayton)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">In a statement, it said there was no other information, besides media reports, to support the allegation about the concerns regarding judicial independence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">As for the alcohol use, it said it was not given further information about the allegations to enable a thorough investigation and dismissed it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">It said the complaint about the appointment of Mr Higgins to the position of magistrate was dismissed because it was beyond the scope of the commission.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Mr Higgins, Mr O&#8217;Donohue and Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan have been informed about the outcome of the investigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Mr O&#8217;Donohue and the Magistrates Court of Victoria declined to comment when contacted by the ABC.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Victorian Magistrate Rodney Higgins was engaged to court clerk Ashleigh Petrie.\u00a0(Facebook) Link copied Share\u00a0article A Victorian magistrate who was in a relationship with a court clerk has been cleared of &hellip; 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