Australia: Judge removes breastfeeding mother, baby from courtroom; faces criticism
What's the story
A county court judge in Melbourne, Australia, is facing heat for ejecting a breastfeeding mother and her baby from the courtroom, The Guardian reported.
The mother was reportedly feeding her baby while observing a trial when the judge addressed her directly, telling her that breastfeeding in court was a distraction.
Until now, no statement has been made by the court over the incident.
Judge's defense
Judge accused the mother of being distracting
Mark Gamble, the judge at the center of criticism, ejected the woman, saying she was not permitted to breastfeed inside the court as it was distracting, according to reports.
Meanwhile, on Friday, he reportedly addressed the jury about the incident, saying his comments were "self-explanatory" and the matter should not be given real consideration as it is irrelevant to the jury's tasks.