James Spigelman
Encyclopedia
James Jacob Spigelman AC QC
(born 1 January 1946) is a former Australia
n 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.
, 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.
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.
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:
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(born 1 January 1946) is a former Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n judge. He served as Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales
Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales
The Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales is a government position in the state of New South Wales, Australia, acting as a deputy to the Governor of New South Wales....
and Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
from 19 May 1998 until 31 May 2011.
Early years and education
Spigelman was born in SosnowiecSosnowiec
Sosnowiec is a city in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, near Katowice. It is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a combined population of over two million people located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Brynica river .It is situated in...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, on 1 January 1946. He arrived in Australia with his family in 1949 and attended Maroubra
Maroubra, New South Wales
Maroubra is a beachside suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Maroubra is located 10 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Randwick. Maroubra is the largest suburb in the area governed...
Public School and later Sydney Boys High School
Sydney Boys High School
Sydney Boys High School is an academically selective public secondary school for boys, located in the City of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, with 1,180 students, from years 7 to 12...
. He then went on to study Arts at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, 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
University Medal
A University Medal is one of several different types of awards, bestowed by universities upon outstanding students or members of staff. The usage and status of university medals differ between countries.-As award on graduation:...
.
Spigelman participated in the 1965 Freedom Ride
Freedom Ride (Australia)
The Freedom Ride of 1964 and 1965 was a significant event in the history of civil rights for Indigenous Australians.Inspired by the Freedom Riders of the American Civil Rights Movement, students from Sydney University formed a group called the Student Action for Aboriginals, led by Charles Perkins...
, 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 MinisterPrime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
. 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
Australian Law Reform Commission
The Australian Law Reform Commission is an Australian independent statutory body established to conduct reviews into the law of Australia and advocate options for law reform...
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
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. He served as Solicitor-General of NSW in 1997.
The Premier Bob Carr
Bob Carr
Robert John "Bob" Carr , Australian statesman, was Premier of New South Wales from 4 April 1995 to 3 August 2005. He holds the record for the longest continuous service as premier of NSW...
appointed Spigelman Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
, and Lieutenant Governor of NSW, effective 19 May 1998.
Spigelman was regarded as the favourite to succeed Murray Gleeson
Murray Gleeson
Anthony Murray Gleeson AC QC is a former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.-Biography:Gleeson was born in Wingham, New South Wales, the eldest of four children...
as Chief Justice
Chief Justice of Australia
The Chief Justice of Australia is the informal title for the presiding justice of the High Court of Australia and the highest-ranking judicial officer in the Commonwealth of Australia...
of the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
when he stepped down in late 2008. However, this appointment went instead to Robert French
Robert French
Robert Shenton French, AC is Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy....
.
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
David Marr
David Courtnay Marr was a British neuroscientist and psychologist. Marr integrated results from psychology, artificial intelligence, and neurophysiology into new models of visual processing...
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
Bret Walker
Bret William Walker SC is one of Australia's leading barristers, stationed at Fifth Floor St James' Hall Chambers.-Education:Walker was educated at The King's School in Sydney. He graduated with degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Sydney.-Career:Walker was admitted to the NSW bar in...
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
Tom Bathurst
Thomas Frederick Bathurst QC is an Australian judge. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales from 1 June 2011.-Early years and education:...
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 AustraliaFilm Finance Corporation AustraliaFilm Finance Corporation Australia was the Australian Government's principal agency for funding the production of film and television in Australia...
Ltd (1990–1992) - Chair of the National Library of AustraliaNational Library of AustraliaThe National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
Council (2010–) - Deputy Chairman of the Art Gallery of New South WalesArt Gallery of New South WalesThe Art Gallery of New South Wales , located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1897 and is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia...
(1983–1988) - President of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (1995–1998)
- Member of the Council of the National Gallery of AustraliaNational Gallery of AustraliaThe National Gallery of Australia is the national art gallery of Australia, holding more than 120,000 works of art. It was established in 1967 by the Australian government as a national public art gallery.- Establishment :...
(1995–1998) - Member of the Board of the Brett WhiteleyBrett WhiteleyBrett Whiteley, AO was an Australian artist. He is represented in the collections of all the large Australian galleries, and was twice winner of the Archibald Prize...
Foundation (1995–1998) and - Councillor of the Australian Film Television and Radio SchoolAustralian Film Television and Radio SchoolThe Australian Film, Television and Radio School is the Australian national centre for professional education and advanced training in film, television, radio and digital media. The School is an Australian Commonwealth government statutory authority...
(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 MedalCentenary MedalThe Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
. - The University of Sydney conferred Justice Spigelman with a Doctorate of Laws (honoris causa)Honorary degreeAn honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
in 2004.