A Melbourne judge is copping heat after telling a breastfeeding mother and her child to leave his court courtroom.

County Court judge Mark Gamble told the mother she was not allowed to breastfeed her baby in his courtroom as it would be a “distraction” for the jury.

The mother – the wife of a prominent Melbourne rabbi — has told the Herald Sun she had a blanket over the baby, adding she was breastfeeding to make sure he didn’t make noise.

Press PLAY below to hear Ross and Russel’s thoughts on the story

The direction from the judge has sparked criticism.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association say mothers have a right to breastfeed their baby no matter where they are.

Breastfeeding counsellor and spokesperson at Australian Breastfeeding Association, Jessica Leonard, says the right to breastfeed anywhere is enshrined in law.

“Women and their babies are allowed to breastfeed wherever they are allowed to be and it’s illegal to discriminate against a person either directly or indirectly because of breastfeeding,” she told Ross and Russel.

However, the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission’s website does not state if the legislation applies to courts.

Press PLAY below to hear Ms Leonard’s view