High Court rules judges are immune from lawsuits, protects Vasta

The High Court has ruled that judges, including Federal Circuit Court Judge Salvatore Vasta, are immune from lawsuits for mistakes made in their judicial roles. This decision overturns a previous ruling that held Vasta liable for wrongly jailing a man. The case involved a Brisbane man, known as Mr. Stradford, who was awarded $309,000 in compensation after Vasta sentenced him to jail for contempt. The High Court found that judges of inferior courts have the same legal protections as those in superior courts. While the ruling protects judges from civil suits, the judges acknowledged that victims of judicial errors may have no means of compensation. They suggested that legislative schemes could provide some relief for those harmed by unjust treatment.