High Court Upholds Judicial Immunity for Judge Who Wrongly Jailed Man

The ruling overturns a 2023 decision, reaffirming protections for judges across all Australian courts, despite errors in the original case.

The High Court ruled that all Australian judges, including those in inferior courts, are protected by judicial immunity from civil lawsuits for acts performed in their judicial capacity.
The decision overturns a 2023 Federal Court ruling that held Judge Salvatore Vasta personally liable for wrongly jailing a man during a divorce case.
The man, known as Mr. Stradford, was jailed for contempt of court after failing to provide financial documents, spending seven days in custody before his release.
The High Court acknowledged the errors in Judge Vasta's ruling and described the original proceedings as a 'parody,' but upheld immunity to preserve judicial independence.
The case prompted legislative changes in 2023 to clarify judicial protections, with the Attorney General emphasizing that accountability remains through appeals and constitutional mechanisms.