| The Honourable James Spigelman AC, QC |
|
|---|---|
| 16th Chief Justice of New South Wales | |
| In office 19 May 1998 – 31 May 2011 |
|
| Appointed by | Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia |
| Preceded by | Murray Gleeson |
| Succeeded by | Tom Bathurst |
| 20th Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales | |
| In office 1 April 1998 – 31 May 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Murray Gleeson |
| Succeeded by | Tom Bathurst |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1946 Sosnowiec, Poland |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Religion | Judaism |
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 19 May 1998 until 31 May 2011.
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Spigelman was born in Sosnowiec, Poland, on 1 January 1946. He arrived in Australia with his family in 1949[1][2] 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.[2]
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.[2]
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.[2][3]
In 1976 Spigelman was admitted to the NSW Bar. He did not commence practice until three years later; first serving for several years as a member of the Australian Law Reform Commission and also spending time overseas. Spigelman's primary areas of practice at the bar included constitutional law, administrative law and appellate work. In 1986, he was appointed Queen's Counsel. He served as Solicitor-General of NSW in 1997.[2][1]
The Premier Bob Carr appointed Spigelman Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and Lieutenant Governor of NSW, effective 19 May 1998.[2][3][1]
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.[4] 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.[3][5] 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."[6] Marr claims that Spigelman's achivements 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."[6]
He retired on 31 May 2011 and was succeeded by Tom Bathurst QC.
His parents, Gustawa and Majloch Spigelman, survived World War II and moved to Australia at the conclusion of the war. They are both now deceased. His two brothers, are Mark (Israel/London); Ron, Guy and Ariel, and Allan Spigelman (Australia); Joshua, Naomi and Isaac.
He is married to Alice, and has a son, Daniel, and twin daughters, Tamara and Rebecca. He supports the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL.
Spigelman has a strong interest in the arts. His community involvement includes:[2]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Murray Gleeson |
Chief Justice of New South Wales 1998 – 2011 |
Succeeded by Tom Bathurst |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Murray Gleeson |
Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales 1998 – 2011 |
Succeeded by Tom Bathurst |