James Spigelman

James Jacob Spigelman (born 1 January 1946) is a former Australian judge who served as Chief Justice of New South Wales from 1998 to 2011, and also as Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales from 1998 to 2012. He served on the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong as a non-permanent judge from other common law jurisdictions from April 2013 to his early resignation in September 2020. Spigelman also served as chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 2012 to 2017.

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 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."

Chairman of the ABC On 8 March 2012, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced Spigelman would become chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), starting a 5-year term on 1 April 2012. His term finished in March 2017 and he was replaced by Justin Milne in April 2017.

Personal life Spigelman is Jewish and is a child of Holocaust survivors, Gustawa and Majloch, who feature in the graphic novel Maus, written by Spigelman's cousin Art Spiegelman. Spigelman’s parents were 2 of 15 survivors among 72 Spigelman relatives. Spigelman's surname was originally spelt Szpiegelman until his parents altered it to Spigelman when moving to Australia after the Holocaust ended.

Spigelman and his two brothers, Mark Spigelman and Allan Spigelman, have been recognised for their respective achievements and contributions to Australia following the family’s Holocaust survival.

Spigelman is married to author and clinical psychologist Alice Spigelman AM. Her directorships have included The Benevolent Society, UNHCR, Bundanon Trust, NIDA, Australian Institute of Music and the Rural Leadership Program. She is currently the Chair of Sculpture by the Sea having been a board member since 2010.

Community leadership Spigelman has a strong interest in the arts. His community involvement includes: In 2001, Justice Spigelman was one of over 15,000 Australians to be awarded a Centenary Medal. He has received honorary doctorates from two universities in Sydney: University of Sydney, Doctor of Laws (honoris causa), 2004;