Salvatore Vasta

Salvatore Vasta is a Federal Circuit and Family Court judge in Australia. Vasta has received negative media attention on several occasions since being appointed to the bench in 2015.

In 2018 Vasta ordered that a child of a same-sex couple be baptised as a Catholic despite neither parent requesting this and baptism not being mentioned previously during the hearing.

In 2019 the full bench of the family court overturned the order.

Appeal courts have been critical of Vasta's behaviour on the bench

In 2021 a man known as Mr Stradford successfully sued Vasta after he was imprisoned for contempt of court during divorce proceedings. This is the first time that a judge has been successfully sued in Australia. Justice Michael Wigney of the Federal Court ruled that a gross miscarriage of justice had occurred and awarded Mr Strandford more than A$300,000.

Notably Vasta was ordered to personally pay Mr Stradford A$50,000. The Federal Australian government subsequently introduced legislation to provide immunity from civil liability for judges.

Vasta is the son of Angelo Vasta, who was removed as a judge in Australia in 1989 by act of parliament.

As of August 2024 Salvatore Vasta continues to be a serving judge in Australia.

See Also

• Angelo Vasta