James Edelman

James Joshua Edelman (born 9 January 1974) has been a justice of the High Court of Australia since 30 January 2017, and is a former justice of the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of Western Australia. He is noted for his various achievements at a young age, including becoming a professor at Oxford University before the age of 35 and a justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia before the age of 40. He was 43 years old upon commencing his appointment on the High Court and is eligible to continue until reaching the constitutionally required retirement age of 70 in 2044.

Education Edelman completed high school at Scotch College in Perth, Western Australia.

Career

Legal Edelman was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1998 after serving as an associate to Justice John Toohey in the High Court of Australia in 1997 and completing an articled clerkship at Blake Dawson Waldron.

Edelman was called to the English bar in 2008

Academic Edelman became a tutor at Keble College, Oxford, in 2005.

Following his appointment to the Supreme Court, Edelman continued to teach as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland and University of Western Australia, as well as holding the honorary position of Conjoint Professor at the University of New South Wales. He took the oath of office on 22 July 2011.

In November 2016, it was announced that Edelman would be appointed as a Justice of the High Court of Australia. He commenced the appointment when Justice Susan Kiefel became Chief Justice of Australia on 30 January 2017. He is the fourth youngest person to join the Court, after H. V. Evatt, Sir Edward McTiernan and Sir Owen Dixon.

Notable judgments Love v Commonwealth of Australia HCA 3 - concerning the meaning of "aliens" under s 51(xix) of the Constitution. Palmer v Western Australia HCA 5 - concerning the validity of COVID-19 border directions and the operation of s 92 of the Constitution. WorkPac Pty Ltd v Rossato HCA 23 - concerning the characterisation of casual employment and the role of written contractual terms. Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union v Personnel Contracting Pty Ltd HCA 1 - concerning whether a labour-hire worker was an employee or an independent contractor. ZG Operations Australia Pty Ltd v Jamsek HCA 2 - concerning whether long-serving truck drivers were employees or independent contractors. Vanderstock v Victoria HCA 30 - concerning whether Victoria's ZLEV distance-based charge was an impermissible duty of excise under s 90 of the Constitution. Karpik v Carnival plc HCA 39 - concerning unfair contract terms and the extraterritorial application of the Australian Consumer Law to class-action waiver clauses.

Honours and recognition Edelman was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in the 2025 Australia Day Honours.

Personal Edelman is married and has two children.