Love-struck magistrate in his late 60s took legal advice from his MUCH younger court clerk fiancée who boasted about helping him decide sentences during a conference in Bali
- Lawyers claimed they feared appearing in front of magistrate Rodney Higgins
- They allege his fiancee boasted of encouraging him to be ‘tougher’ in sentences
- They also allege his fiancee, Ashleigh Petrie, influenced sentencing decisions
A love-struck magistrate took advice on how to deal with criminals from his much younger fiancee, it has been claimed.
Court clerk Ashleigh Petrie, 23, boasted about helping Rodney Higgins, who is in his late 60s, decide on sentences, The Herald Sun reported.
At a legal conference in Bali she was overheard saying that she thought Mr Higgins was ‘too soft’ and encouraged him to come down harder on criminals.
Lawyers working at the court where they worked in regional Victoria claimed Mr Higgings was being influenced by his younger lover.
Court clerk Ashleigh Petrie, 23, boasted about helping magistrate Rodney Higgins, who is in his late 60s, decide on sentences
According to one lawyer, a senior criminal barrister became enraged by Ms Petrie’s comments.
The barrister confronted the couple and there was apparently an altercation in front of others.
Attorney-General Jill Hennessy said it was an issue to be dealt with by the magistrate’s court.
However Opposition spokesman Ed O’Donohue was left far more concerned by the allegations.
‘It’s disappointing that it is diverting attention from the many challenges confronting Victoria’s courts and justice system,’ he said.
On Tuesday legal professionals came out in support of the happy couple after it was revealed Mr Higgins proposed to Ms Petrie in September.
At a legal conference in Bali Ms Petrie was overheard saying that she thought Mr Higgins was ‘too soft’ and encouraged him to come down harder on criminals
On Tuesday legal professionals came out in support of the happy couple after it was revealed Mr Higgins proposed to Ms Petrie in September