Breastfeeding mum: Karl Stefanovic, Midwife calls out Melbourne judge who shamed mother in court
Today host Karl Stefanovic has slammed a Melbourne judge for humiliating a breastfeeding mother in his courtroom.
The wife of a prominent Melbourne rabbi spoke out this week after a county court judge said she was not allowed to breastfeed her baby in his courtroom as it would be a “distraction” for the jury.
“How far have we come as a community to accept [breastfeeding],” Stefanovic said on the morning show on Friday.
“There are going to be people out there as we are sitting here talking to you live saying, ‘she could have gone somewhere else’.”
“Come off it,” he said in anticipation of such comments.
“What is the big deal?”
Birthbeat founder and chief executive Edwina Sharrock has added her voice to the chorus of people calling out the judge for his comments.
“This poor woman was made to feel humiliated, she felt ashamed and absolutely brought to tears and this all because she was trying to help her child out,” she told Today on Monday.
The mother told the Herald Sun she had a blanket over the baby and was breastfeeding him to ensure he kept quiet during the court proceedings on Thursday.
It was then that Victorian County Court judge Mark Gamble addressed her in front of everyone in the courtroom.
“Madam you will not be permitted to breastfeed a baby in court,” he said.
“It will be a distraction and I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
Originally published as Karl Stefanovic slams judge for shaming breastfeeding mother in court
