Anthony Besanko

Anthony Besanko (born 8 May 1954) is an Australian jurist who served as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia from April 2006 to May 2024 and as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island between February 2015 and May 2024. He has also served as additional judge in the ACT Supreme Court since March 2007.

From 1984 to 2001, he practiced as a barrister in South Australia, working in corporation and administration law and native title, and was president of the South Australian Bar Association from 2000 to 2001.

Roberts-Smith defamation proceedings From 2021, Besanko presided over Ben Roberts-Smith's defamation proceedings against several major newspapers, dismissing the case on 1 June 2023. Roberts-Smith appealed to the Federal Court of Australia against Besanko's judgement, but he lost his appeal on 16 May 2025. Publication of the new judgment was held over until 20 May, for checking for security-sensitive information.