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His Honour Judge Tony Baumgartner – Recorder of Westminster

His Honour Judge Tony Baumgartner

Judge Tony Alan Walter Baumgartner, known as His Honour Judge Tony Baumgartner, is a long-serving Senior Circuit Judge of England and Wales who is assigned to the South East Circuit.

Tony Alan Walter Baumgartner was born on the 9th August 1971. Judge Baumgartner grew up and studied in Queensland, Australia, obtaining an LLB from Queensland University of Technology (1993–1997) and an LLM from University College London (1997–1998). He is also admitted as a solicitor in Queensland, Australia, and in Ireland.

In London he practised at Rowe & Maw (later part of Mayer Brown) and Clyde & Co, specialising in political and war risks insurance as well as fine art and specie matters. He became a partner at Clyde & Co in 2011 and developed a broader commercial disputes practice.

His judicial appointments began with appointment as a Recorder of the Crown Court in 2009.

He served as a Tribunal Judge in the Health, Education and Social Entitlement Chamber (including the Restricted Patients Panel) from 2018 and was appointed a Circuit Judge in 2019.

In 2022 he became authorised to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Chancery Division.

On the 1st August 2023 His Honour Judge Tony Baumgartner was appointed Senior Circuit Judge and Resident Judge at Southwark Crown Court; he is also the Honorary Recorder of Westminster.

Judge Baumgartner additionally sits as a Senior Judge of the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus.

In a 2022 conversation marking Pride month, Judge Baumgartner spoke openly about his experiences as a gay lawyer. He described the UK legal profession as increasingly inclusive and accommodating, noting that acceptance of LGBT+ people had progressed faster there than in many other parts of society and encouraged lawyers to use their privileged position to promote broader inclusion.

Judge Baumgartner was made an Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple on the 4th February 2025. This is an honour that can be (and often is) conferred on distinguished solicitors and others who were never called to the Bar by the Inn.

HHJ Baumgartner is shown on the List of Circuit Judges published on the Courts and Tribunal Judiciary website.

His Honour Judge BaumgartnerSouth East01-04-2019
List of Circuit Judges

Judge Baumgartner – The Big Ben Climb and Sentencing July 2026

On the 8th March 2025, Daniel Day climbed over railings near the Houses of Parliament and scaled the Elizabeth Tower barefoot. He displayed a Palestinian flag, remained on a ledge for around 15–17 hours, and livestreamed parts of the protest.

In sentencing, Judge Baumgartner described the offending as “well-planned” and said Day “knew precisely what you were doing.”

He noted that Day had “foolishly” climbed high enough to risk “very serious harm to you and possibly others if you fell.” While finding “little insight into your offending or any real remorse,” the judge took into account the absence of further offences since the incident and strong personal mitigation, including the defendant’s failing eyesight.

Day was ordered to complete up to 20 rehabilitation activity days and was made subject to electronic monitoring for four months.

You, and people like you, must understand that like everyone else you are subject to the laws of this country.

You and others like you do not get to decide which laws you will follow and which laws you will break.

If that were to happen, the rule of law would break down

His Honour Judge Tony Baumgartner

Authorisation to sit as a High Court Judge

HHJ Baumgartner is authorised to sit as a High Court Judge by s9(1) of the Senior Courts Act as amended by the Crime and Courts Act 2013.

According to CRIMINAL PRACTICE DIRECTIONS 2015 DIVISION XII His Honour Judge Baumgartner should be addressed as “My Lord” in court.

Modes of Address B.1 – The following judges, when sitting in court, should be addressed as ‘My Lord’ or ‘My Lady’

(b) any Circuit Judge sitting as a judge of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) or the High Court under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981;
(d) any Senior Circuit Judge who is an Honorary Recorder.

Description B.3 – In cause lists, forms and orders members of the judiciary should be described as follows:

(a) Circuit Judges, as ‘His [or Her] Honour Judge A’. When the judge is sitting as a judge of the High Court under section 9(1) of the Senior Courts Act 1981, the words ‘sitting as a judge of the High Court’ should be added;

The three key values which are central to the role of judicial office holders (JOHs) in England and Wales are:
• Independence
• Impartiality
• Integrity

“Publicity is the very soul of justice. . . . It keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial….Where there is no publicity there is no justice”

Jeremy Bentham – Mr Justice Cobb: ‘Justice must be seen to be done’

Image of HHJ Baumgartner : The Lord Mayor of Westminster

The High Court Judge that never was – His Honour Judge Melbourne Inman KC

Check out our articles on Rule of Law, Open Justice, Judges Salaries and Fees, Dodgy Judges, Mr Justice Williams, His Honour Now His Dishonour, His Honour Judge Stuart Farquhar, Do you Have to Bow to a Judge ?, Can you Email a Judge ?, Can you Criticise a Judge ? and the highly dubious Sussex Family Justice Board.

The Ministry of Injustice is not the Ministry of Justice nor is it affiliated in any way with the justice system, legal profession, police or any other law enforcement agencies.

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[post_title] was last updated on the 30th July 2026

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