The former chief justice of the Supreme Court of NSW, Jim Spigelman, is to be appointed chairman of the ABC.

An announcement is expected to be made by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and the Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, today or tomorrow, sources say.

Retired from the bench last year … Jim Spigelman Credit:Sahlan Hayes

Cabinet approval was given on Monday for Mr Spigelman to take up the part-time $151,000-a-year post.

Mr Spigelman, who retired from the bench last May, replaces the former stockbroker Maurice Newman, who stepped down at the end of last year.