Walter Sofronoff's Legal Challenge Over Corruption Findings Dismissed

Walter Sofronoff, KC, was appointed by the ACT government to lead an inquiry into the prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann, a former Liberal staffer accused of sexual assault. The inquiry aimed to assess whether political influence affected the investigation, particularly after Lehrmann's trial was abandoned in 2022 due to juror misconduct. In March 2024, the ACT Integrity Commission released a report, known as the Juno report, which concluded that Sofronoff engaged in “serious corrupt conduct” by leaking sensitive information to journalists before the report's official release.

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On December 11, 2025, Justice Wendy Abraham of the Federal Court dismissed Sofronoff's bid to overturn the integrity commission's findings. The court upheld the commission's conclusions that Sofronoff had acted dishonestly and compromised the integrity of the inquiry by leaking his final report to journalists Janet Albrechtsen of The Australian and Elizabeth Byrne of the ABC. The commission's report indicated that Sofronoff had extensive communications with Albrechtsen, including 273 interactions over seven months, which raised concerns about his impartiality.

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The Juno report highlighted that Sofronoff had provided Albrechtsen with advance copies of the inquiry's final report, which were deemed “highly sensitive, confidential documents.” The commission found that his actions undermined the integrity of the inquiry and that he had not acted in good faith. Justice Abraham noted that Sofronoff's claims of acting within his responsibilities were rejected, emphasizing that he did not possess unfettered discretion in his role.

The Guardian

In her ruling, Justice Abraham stated, “The applicant has not established that the finding of serious corrupt conduct is either unreasonable, irrational and/or illogical.” The ACT Integrity Commission's lawyers supported the findings, arguing that Sofronoff's actions threatened public confidence in the integrity of government operations.

The Guardian

Sofronoff's legal team contended that he believed he was acting in the public interest by communicating with the media. However, the integrity commission and the court found that his conduct was not justifiable and significantly compromised the inquiry's integrity.

The Guardian

Following the ruling, Justice Abraham will consider the legal costs associated with Sofronoff's failed challenge. The implications of this case extend beyond Sofronoff, as it raises questions about the integrity of judicial inquiries and the responsibilities of those in positions of authority.

The Guardian

• “The commission found that Mr Sofronoff chose to act in circumstances where he preferred the interests of two journalists, one journalist in particular, over the exercise of his functions, including the interests of Mr Drumgold and the chief minister.” — Justice Wendy Abraham

The Guardian

• “The applicant has not established that the finding of serious corrupt conduct is either unreasonable, irrational and/or illogical,” — Justice Wendy Abraham

Kyabram Free Press

This ruling marks a significant moment in the ongoing scrutiny of the ACT's legal processes and the accountability of those who oversee them.

Kyabram Free Press