Masters of the Bench

Full Title: The Hon Justice John Sackar KC

Category: Ordinary Bencher

Bench Call Date: 11-05-2026

Call Date: 27-07-2006

Bio:

John was formerly a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. He was appointed in 2011 and sat in the Equity Division of the Court. Prior to his retirement in February 2024, he conducted a Special Commission of Inquiry into a number of alleged unsolved homicides in the LGBTIQ+ community on behalf of the New South Wales government.

John graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor Laws (1973) and was admitted as a solicitor in the same year. He was admitted as a barrister in 1975, received his Master of Laws in 1976 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1987. Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, he practised extensively in all areas of commercial law, appearing in all jurisdictions at the trial and appellate levels. Whilst Queen’s Counsel he was also regularly retained as a mediator. He has appeared in Courts in Brunei and the Privy Council in London.

John is the current President of the Arts Law Centre of Australia which is a not-for -profit organisation delivery no or low-cost legal advice to artists.

In 2020, John published a biography of Lord Devlin (Hart, Oxford). In early 2025, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to the Law and the Judiciary. On 21 July 2025, he was elected as an Overseas Bencher of Middle Temple

Also in 2025, John was appointed by the New South Wales Government to review criminal law protections against the incitement of hatred. He delivered his report on 5 November 2025.