Bruce Lehrmann's failed defamation appeal against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson
Consensus Summary
Bruce Lehrmann’s final legal attempt to overturn a defamation ruling against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson ended in failure on April 9, 2026, when Australia’s High Court refused his appeal. The case stemmed from a 2021 interview on *The Project*, where Brittany Higgins publicly alleged she was raped by a colleague in Parliament House in 2019. Though Lehrmann was not named, he later claimed he was identifiable and sued for defamation. After a criminal trial collapsed due to juror misconduct in December 2022, Lehrmann pursued civil action, but Federal Court Justice Michael Lee ruled in 2023 that Higgins’ account was true on the balance of probabilities, finding Lehrmann raped her. The Federal Court of Appeal upheld this decision in December 2025, dismissing all four of Lehrmann’s appeal grounds, including claims of procedural unfairness and insufficient evidence. Lehrmann’s High Court bid was rejected without further argument, leaving him liable for legal costs estimated at over $2.5 million. Throughout the proceedings, Lehrmann denied the allegations, but courts consistently found his credibility lacking. The case has had lasting impacts, particularly for Higgins, who welcomed the High Court’s decision as closure to a prolonged legal battle.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Bruce Lehrmann lost his defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson in the Federal Court in 2023, with Justice Michael Lee ruling on the balance of probabilities that Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.
- The High Court dismissed Lehrmann’s appeal on April 9, 2026, with the judgment stating 'Special leave refused with costs'.
- Lehrmann was charged with sexual intercourse without consent in 2021, pleaded not guilty in 2022, and the criminal trial was aborted in December 2022 due to juror misconduct, leading to charges being dropped.
- The defamation trial against Network Ten and Wilkinson ran for five weeks in 2023, with Justice Lee finding Lehrmann was not defamed by the 2021 *The Project* interview featuring Brittany Higgins.
- Lehrmann maintains his innocence throughout the legal proceedings, denying any sexual contact with Higgins.
- The Federal Court of Appeal upheld the original judgment in December 2025, dismissing all four grounds of Lehrmann’s appeal.
- Brittany Higgins’ allegation of rape was first publicly made in a 2021 interview on *The Project* with Lisa Wilkinson, though Lehrmann was not named initially.
- Justice Lee’s judgment included the quote: 'Having escaped the lion’s den, Mr Lehrmann made the mistake of going back for his hat.'
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The Federal Court of Appeal argued Justice Lee should have found Lehrmann knew Higgins did not consent to sexual intercourse.
- Lehrmann’s appeal to the High Court argued the Federal Court of Appeal was wrong to uphold justification defences.
- Justice Lee’s judgment found Lehrmann was 'hell-bent on having sex' with Higgins and 'did not care one way or another whether Ms Higgins understood or agreed to what was going on.'
- Lehrmann is facing a massive legal bill for Network Ten and Wilkinson’s court costs, including $2 million for the Federal Court trial and an estimated $500,000 for the Full Court appeal.
- Lehrmann argued Justice Lee conducted his 'own research' and relied on non-legal material, including academic papers, which Ten denied.
- The defamation trial became a public spectacle, with thousands watching the Federal Court YouTube channel, and included testimony from a lip reader interpreting CCTV footage of Lehrmann’s interactions with Higgins.
- Lehrmann had to run his appeals without a barrister initially, later receiving help from lawyer Zali Burrows.
- Brittany Higgins received over $2 million in compensation from the Commonwealth, and Lehrmann received a year’s accommodation after appearing on Network 7’s *Spotlight* program.
- Former *Spotlight* producer Taylor Auerbach testified that Network 7 reimbursed Lehrmann for expenses including a tomahawk steak, illicit drugs, and sex workers, which Network 7 denied.
- Higgins welcomed the High Court’s decision on social media, calling it 'a measure of finality to a long and painful chapter.'
- The criminal trial was delayed after Lisa Wilkinson’s Logies speech referencing Higgins’ bravery, which the court found could impact the jury pool.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian and ABC state Justice Lee found Lehrmann was 'hell-bent on having sex' with Higgins and 'did not care about consent,' but Newscomau only reports the Federal Court of Appeal made this stronger finding, not Justice Lee’s original judgment.
- Newscomau claims Lehrmann argued Justice Lee relied on 'non-legal material,' but the Guardian and ABC do not specify this as a key argument in the High Court appeal.
- ABC notes Lehrmann’s legal team worked pro bono, while Newscomau does not mention this detail.
Source Articles
Bruce Lehrmann loses last-ditch legal effort to appeal defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson
The high court has dismissed his bid to clear his name of findings that, on the balance of probabilities, he raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in 2019 Bruce Lehrmann has lost his last legal avenue to challenge his failed defamation case against Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson after Australia’s top court dismissed his case. The high court dismissed his attempt to challenge the outcome in a short judgment published to its website on Thursday. Continue reading...
Bruce Lehrmann suffers crushing court blow as High Court knocks back appeal
Bruce Lehrmann has lost his last-ditch attempt to overturn his damaging defamation suit loss to Network 10 and Lisa Wilkinson.
High Court has made Bruce Lehrmann's defamation case a complete failure
The High Court was Bruce Lehrmann's last legal avenue to challenge a Federal Court ruling that, on the balance of probabilities, he raped Brittany Higgins — now that avenue has closed.
Breaking: High Court refuses to hear Bruce Lehrmann's appeal
The High Court was Bruce Lehrmann's last legal avenue to challenge a Federal Court ruling that found, on the balance of probabilities, he did rape Brittany Higgins.
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