The fallout from a recent case has federal circuit judges nervous – but legislating to protect them may be a step too far

‘Already some unhappy punters are threatening to sue judges – which has no doubt sent shivers up the spines of their honours.’ Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

Federal circuit judges are nervously looking over their shoulders. A number of them will not hear cases where there is uncertainty about their jurisdiction – resulting in further delays or trials being sent upstairs to other federal courts.

This is not all federal judges – just the ones from the “inferior” level of the judicial food chain – the federal circuit court.