Role Judge | Succeeded by Tom Bathurst Name James Spigelman | |
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Books Statutory Interpretation and Human Rights Education | ||
James Spigelman - Magna Carta: The rule of law and liberty
James Jacob Spigelman AC, QC (born 1 January 1946) is a former Australian judge. He served as Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 25 May 1998 until 31 May 2011. On 8 March 2012 it was announced that he would become chairperson of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He was appointed to the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong on 8 April 2013 as a non-permanent judge from other common law jurisdictions.
Contents
- James Spigelman Magna Carta The rule of law and liberty
- ABC TV Lateline Jim Spigelman Whitlams former pvt Secretary remembers Gough Whitlam
- Early years and education
- Early legal career
- Judicial career
- Chairman of the ABC
- Personal life
- Community leadership
- Honours
- References
ABC TV, Lateline: Jim Spigelman, Whitlam's former pvt Secretary remembers Gough Whitlam
Early years and education
Spigelman was born in Sosnowiec, Poland, on 1 January 1946. He arrived in Australia with his family in 1949 and attended Maroubra Public School and later Sydney Boys High School. He then went on to study Arts at the University of Sydney, where he attained First-Class Honours in Government and Second-Class Honours (Division 1) in Economics. Subsequently, he studied law, graduating in 1971 with First-Class Honours and the University Medal.
Spigelman participated in the 1965 Freedom Ride, a project undertaken by students to draw attention to problems faced by Indigenous communities in NSW. In 1969 he was President of the Students' Representative Council. From 1969-1971, he was the Student Fellow of the University Senate.
Early legal career
Spigelman was admitted to practise as a solicitor in 1972. From 1972 to 1975, he served as Senior Advisor and Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. In 1975, he was appointed the Secretary of the Department of the Media.
In 1976 Spigelman was admitted to the NSW Bar. He did not commence practice until three years later, when he first served for several years as a member of the Australian Law Reform Commission and also spent time overseas. Spigelman's primary areas of practice at the bar included constitutional law, administrative law, and appellate work.
In 1986, Spigelman was appointed Queen's Counsel; and, in 1997, he served as Solicitor-General of New South Wales.
Judicial career
The Premier Bob Carr appointed Spigelman Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and Lieutenant Governor of NSW, effective 25 May 1998.
Spigelman was regarded as the favourite to succeed Murray Gleeson as Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia when he stepped down in late 2008. However, this appointment went instead to Robert French.
On 18 March 2011, Spigelman announced his decision to resign as Chief Justice, effective 31 May 2011. Reviewing Spigelman's 13-year term of office, Sydney Morning Herald columnist, David Marr commented that "... the Chief Justice of NSW .... blazed an incomparable trail.... every stage of Jim Spigelman's remarkable career has been like that: briefly surprising and then absolutely convincing". Marr claims that Spigelman's achievements include the renewal of the ranks of the Supreme Court, running a polite and friendly Court, and modernising the Court's business practices and rules. According to Bret Walker SC, Spigelman was renowned for "... showing his decided preference for efficient, better-value-for-money justice."
He retired on 31 May 2011 and was succeeded by Tom Bathurst QC. Spigelman has also been a justice on the Supreme Court of Fiji.
Chairman of the ABC
On 8 March 2012, Prime Minister Gillard announced he would become chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), starting a 5-year term on 1 April 2012.
Personal life
Spigelman's parents, Gustawa and Majloch, are Holocaust survivors who feature in the graphic novel Maus by James Spigelman's cousin Art Spiegelman. Spigelman's surname was originally spelt Szpiegelman until his parents altered it to Spigelman after moving to Australia. Spigelman is married to author and clinical psychologist, Alice Spigelman.
Community leadership
Spigelman has a strong interest in the arts. His community involvement includes: