A prominent Victorian magistrate has been formally reprimanded by the state’s judicial watchdog after telling a court user she wanted to “slap you around a bit, too” during proceedings.
The Judicial Commission of Victoria substantiated complaints against Magistrate Vicky Prapas, ruling that a catalogue of comments delivered from the bench crossed the threshold into offensive and inappropriate conduct.
Watchdog condemns string of bench remarks
As first reported by The Guardian Australia, the watchdog examined several matters overseen by Magistrate Prapas, determining that her sharp commentary departed markedly from the impartiality and temperance required of judicial officers in the state.
Central to the investigation was an exchange in which the magistrate told an individual appearing before her that she wanted to “slap you around a bit, too”. The commission found that such language undermined the dignity of the courtroom, regardless of the frustration or behavioural difficulties posed by litigants or defendants.
The watchdog dismissed suggestions that the phrasing could be excused as colloquial venting or stern judicial guidance, finding instead that it amounted to conduct capable of diminishing public confidence in the administration of justice.
School gallery witnesses judicial outburst
Compounding the commission’s adverse findings was the revelation that one of the contentious remarks took place while a gallery of school children observed open court proceedings.
Educational excursions to the Magistrates' Court are designed to foster civic awareness and respect for the rule of law. However, the commission determined that exposing visiting students to intemperate outbursts directly contradicted the educational purpose of court visits, presenting an improper model of the Victorian justice system.
The Guardian Australia reported that the investigation addressed multiple instances where Magistrate Prapas adopted an aggressive or belittling tone toward individuals appearing before her, prompting formal interventions by the oversight body.
Disciplinary limits and institutional accountability
Under the Judicial Commission of Victoria Act, the commission has the statutory power to investigate allegations of misconduct, delay, or physical and mental incapacity involving judges and magistrates.
Where complaints are substantiated but do not warrant parliamentary dismissal, the commission typically refers the matter to the head of jurisdiction—in this case, the Chief Magistrate of Victoria—with recommendations that may include counselling, targeted training, or formal administrative reprimands.
Legal practitioners note that while the daily caseload of the Magistrates' Court is notoriously heavy, placing extreme pressure on judicial officers managing complex lists, the requirement for decorum remains absolute.
Preserving faith in the lower bench
The Magistrates’ Court functions as the coalface of Victoria’s legal framework, resolving hundreds of thousands of civil, criminal, and family violence matters each year. For most citizens, an appearance before a magistrate represents their sole direct interaction with the judiciary.
The ruling against Magistrate Prapas underscores ongoing efforts by Australian judicial leadership to stamp out poor courtroom culture and reinforce expectations that litigants, witnesses, and observers are treated with equanimity.
The commission's findings serve as a firm reminder that judicial immunity does not protect officers from scrutiny when bench conduct falls below professional community standards.
