A Victorian magistrate who previously made comments about a rape victim experiencing "buyer's remorse" has been stood down following a new complaint about his behaviour.
Magistrate Richard Pithouse was previously investigated for his comments to a rape victim in 2018.
He suggested the victim had experienced "buyer's remorse" after being told she called a sexual assault crisis line the morning after the incident.
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The Judicial Commission of Victoria labelled the remarks as highly inappropriate and insensitive and the victim was devastated by the comments and did not think he deserved to keep his job.
But he kept his position and in 2021 the commission commended the magistrate instead be personally counselled by Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan over his conduct.
A fresh complaint was lodged about Pithouse's in-court behaviour in September last year, the commission said on Monday.
The detail of the new complaint has not yet been revealed.
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The commission recommended the magistrate be stood down from office in light of the complaint, and found the complaint could amount to "proved misbehaviour or incapacity of the officer".
If he was kept in his role, the commission said it would impair public confidence in Pithouse's impartiality, independence or integrity.
Hannan agreed to stand Pithouse down until further notice, preventing him from performing functions in an open court.
The complaint has been referred to an investigating panel and the investigation is ongoing, the commission said in a statement.
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