James Spigelman - Biography

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.

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.

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; 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.

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.

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 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."

He retired on 31 May 2011 and was succeeded by Tom Bathurst QC.

Family and social matters

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:

• Chairman of the Film Finance Corporation Australia Ltd (1990–1992)
• Chair of the National Library of Australia Council (2010–)
• Deputy Chairman of the Art Gallery of New South Wales (1983–1988)
• President of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (1995–1998)
• Member of the Council of the National Gallery of Australia (1995–1998)
• Member of the Board of the Brett Whiteley Foundation (1995–1998) and
• Councillor of the Australian Film Television and Radio School (1975–1978)

Honours

• Justice Spigelman became a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2000, for services to law and to the community through leadership in bringing about change in attitudes to the administration of justice for a more fair and equitable society, and to the support of the visual arts.
• In 2001, Justice Spigelman was one of over 15,000 Australians to be awarded a Centenary Medal.
• The University of Sydney conferred Justice Spigelman with a Doctorate of Laws (honoris causa) in 2004.