Justice John Burns

Justice John Burns was sworn in as an additional Judge of the Northern Territory Supreme Court in May 2020.

First admitted to practice in 1981, Justice Burns initially worked at Legal Aid NSW before moving to Canberra in 1983 to work as a prosecutor for the Deputy Crown Solicitor’s Office.  Following a stint at the Australian Government Solicitor’s office in Canberra, Justice Burns joined Gallens Barristers & Solicitors in 1985 where he quickly became a partner.  In 1989, Justice Burns joined the Canberra Bar before being appointed Magistrate and Coroner, then Chief Magistrate and Chief Coroner of the Australian Capital Territory.  In 2011 Justice Burns was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory where he remained until his retirement in 2021.