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Bailiff of Jersey

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See also: Law of Jersey, Courts of Jersey, Bailiff (Channel Islands), Jurat, Norman law, Advocate, and Judiciary of Jersey (list)

Bailiff of Jersey
since 17 October 2019
AppointerMonarch of the United Kingdom,
at the recommendation of the Jersey Government
Term lengthAt His Majesty's Pleasure, at least until retirement (70)
FormationAt least 1204
First holderPhilippe L'Evesque (first attested)
DeputyDeputy Bailiff of Jersey

The Bailiff of Jersey (French: Le Bailli de Jersey) has several roles:[2]

  • Chief judge
  • President of the States Assembly, carrying out functions of a presiding officer
  • civic head of the Bailiwick of Jersey
  • Guardian of the constitution
  • President of the Licensing Assembly, regulating alcohol sales
  • Must give permission for certain types of public entertainment to take place.
Sir Michael Birt (Bailiff from 2009 to 2015) with sculpture of Lord Coutanche (Bailiff 1935–1962) behind.

The position of Bailiff was created shortly after the Treaty of Paris 1259 in which the king of England, Henry III, gave up claim to all of the Duchy of Normandy but the Channel Islands. In 1290, separate bailiffs for Jersey and Guernsey were appointed.

History

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The position of Bailiff in Norman law predates the separation of Normandy in 1204.[3] When the Channel Islands were granted self-governance by King John after 1204, legislative power was vested in 12 jurats, the twelve "senior men" of the island. Along with the Bailiff, they would form the Royal Court, which determined all civil and criminal causes (except treason).[4]

Any oppression by a bailiff or a warden was to be resolved locally or failing that, by appeal to the King who appointed commissioners to report on disputes.[citation needed] In the late 1270s, Jersey was given its own Bailiff (the first record of someone holding the position is in 1277) and from the 1290s, the duties of Bailiff and Warden were separated. The (Sub-)Warden became responsible for taxation and defence, while the Bailiff became responsible for justice. While probably originally a temporary arrangement by Otto de Grandison, this became permanent and the foundation for Jersey's modern separation of Crown and justice. It also lessened the Warden's authority relative to the Bailiff, who had much more interaction with the community.[5]

In 1462, the occupying French Governor de Brézé issued ordinances outlining the role of the Bailiff and the Jurats.[6]: 38  It may well be during this occupation that the island saw the establishment of the States. Comte Maulevrier, who had led the invasion of the island, ordered the holding of an Assize in the island. Maulevrier confirmed the place of existing institutions, however created the requirement for Jurats to be chosen by Bailiffs, Jurats, Rectors and Constables.[7] The earliest extant Act of the States dates from 1524.[8]

Peyton was also against democracy in the form of the States and the freedoms of the Courts in Jersey. In 1615, Jean Hérault was appointed Bailiff by the King, having been promised the role by letters patent in 1611. Peyton disputed this appointment, claiming it was the Governor's jurisdiction to appoint the Bailiff. Hérault asserted it was the King's jurisdiction to directly appoint the Bailiff. An Order in Council (dated 9 August 1615) sided with Hérault.

Hérault took this to claim the Bailiff was the real head of government and took steps to assert the precedence of the Bailiff over Governor: he ordered his name to be placed before the Governor's in church prayers and was the first Bailiff to wear red robes (in the style of English judges). To back his claims, he cited that in the Norman administrative tradition, the Bailiffs had "no one above them except the Duke".[9]: 96–7 [3] Though the Privy Council did not agree with Hérault's extreme position on the precedence of the Bailiff, on 18 February 1617 it declared that the "charge of military forces be wholly in the Governor, and the care of justice and civil affairs in the Bailiff." This secured for the Bailiff precedence over the Governor on justice and civil affairs.[3]

By 1750, the Bailiffship had de facto become a hereditary position in the de Carteret family. Absences of the de Carterets and all other high-ranking posts left Charles Lempière, the Lieutenant Bailiff, in effective full control over the island. Lempière was a Parliamentarian, but by temperament was autocratic. His family had significant power with a number of high-ranking roles in the island and he issued ordinances and quashed protest through his court.[9]:195

After the 1948 States reforms, Jurats were removed from the States, now only sitting on the Royal Court (and the Licensing Assembly). The reforms declared that the Bailiff shall be the judge of the law, and the Jurats the "judge of fact".[9]: 278–9 

Deputy Bailiff

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The role of Deputy Bailiff was created by the States Assembly in 1958.[10]

Lieutenant Bailiff

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Two or more of the senior Jurats are appointed by the Bailiff as Lieutenant Bailiffs. They assist the Bailiff with civic duties and may preside in the Royal Court.[11]

Appointment of Bailiff and Deputy Bailiff

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By convention, the Deputy Bailiff is appointed as Bailiff without a selection process.[12]

The Deputy Bailiff’s appointment is made formally by the Crown, on the recommendation of a panel consisting of the Bailiff, another judge of the Royal Court, and the chair of the Jersey Appointments Commission. The process is relatively transparent, with an advertisement, job description and consultation process, including of some States members who hold particular Assembly roles.[13]

The Bailiff is appointed by the Crown through letters patent after consultation with the Island. They serve at His Majesty's pleasure, usually until an age of retirement as specified in their letters patent, unless they resign earlier.[14] When a Bailiff's term of office ends, all the functions of Bailiff are exercised by the Deputy Bailiff until the next Bailiff is formally appointed.[15]

Removal from office

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The Bailiff and Deputy Bailiff may be removed from office by the King, on the advice of the UK Government minister responsible for Channel Island affairs, currently the Secretary of State for Justice but in the past the Home Secretary. Three individuals who held the office of Bailiff or Deputy Bailiff have been dismissed or required to resign.[16]

  • Sir William Venables Vernon stood down as Bailiff in 1931 following a 'round robin' letter from several prominent islanders who believed he was no longer capable of carrying out his duties.
  • Charles Malet de Carteret resigned as Bailiff in 1935, after failing to reply to an invitation to attend King George V's silver jubilee celebrations in London.
  • Vernon Tomes was dismissed from his position as Deputy Bailiff in 1992.

Roles of the Bailiff

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Chief judge

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The Bailiff is the Chef Magistrat of the island. 'The major part of the Bailiff's time is spent on his judicial duties', the Carwell Review noted.[17] In the Royal Court, the Bailiff presides. The Bailiff may sit alone or with Jurats. The Bailiff is the judge of law but not generally a judge of fact. Instead, the Jurats normally decide the facts in civil and the sentence in criminal cases.

The Bailiff appoints - but alone cannot suspend or dismiss - the Judicial Greffier (the clerk of the court). The Bailiff can also issue search warrants.[3]

President of the States Assembly

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The Bailiff serves as the President (or Speaker) of the States Assembly.[18] This role has been in place from the origins of the States in the 16th century, and stems from the States' role as a consultative body for the Royal Court, where the Bailiff also presided.

Historically, the Bailiff had authority to 'dissent' from a resolution passed by the States Assembly if the Bailiff was of the opinion that the Assembly lacked the power to pass it. This had the effect of transmitting the resolution to the King and making the resolution of no effect.[19] This was abolished by the States of Jersey Law 2005.[20]

The Bailiff, or Deputy Bailiff when presiding, also previously held a casting vote in the event that the States Assembly was equally divided.[21] This vote, rarely exercised, was by convention used maintain the status quo, allowing further debate on the issue.[22] This was also abolished in 2005.

In the Chamber, the Bailiff's seat is 18 cm (7.1 in) higher than the Lieutenant Governor's to emphasise the Bailiff's higher position in regard to the island's civil government.[14] The Bailiff is President of the Emergencies Council, which was established in 1990.[3]

Three official reviews in the 21st century have recommended that the Bailiff should cease to have the role of President of the States Assembly:

  • The Clothier review on the machinery of government in Jersey (December 2000).[23]
  • The Carswell review of the Crown Officers (December 2009).[24]
  • The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry (July 2017).[25]

The case for reform is that in a democracy, parliamentarians should have the power to choose the speaker of their assembly.[26] There have also been concerns that the Bailiff's position as President of the States Assembly conflicts with the constitutional principles of separation of powers and judicial independence. Such calls for the separation of the office's powers are longstanding: in 1859, writer Helier Simon called a potential separation "desirable".[3]

The Bailiff's role as President of the States Assembly is defended on the grounds that the current arrangement works well in practice.[27] There are also concerns that removing the Bailiff from the States Assembly would undermine his status as the civic head of Jersey.[3]

Civic head

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The Carswell Review noted that the Bailiff 'carries out a number of ceremonial and public duties. He receives Royalty, visiting ambassadors and other prominent visitors to Jersey, plays the leading part in the Liberation Day and Remembrance Sunday ceremonies and hosts a number of official dinners. When the Lieutenant Governor is away from the Island the Bailiff acts as Deputy Governor. He is a member of various public committees, supports and attends functions of a number of charities and community organisations and has a constant round of public engagements to fulfil'.[28]

Guardian of the constitution

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In 2020, the Deputy Bailiff described the Bailiff's guardian of the constitution function as including powers of[29]

  • 'giving voice to constitutional concerns that might undermine the rights and privileges of the Island and of Islanders, and advising and warning the Chief Minister and Government of Jersey accordingly' and
  • 'advising the Lieutenant Governor who in turn advises the Sovereign on constitutional matters affecting the Island’s privileges and freedoms'.

The Bailiff is the official channel of communication between the island authorities and the UK Government, though this has altered since the development of ministerial government and the creation of the role of Chief Minister. [30]

The Bailiff is also the keeper of the island's Royal Mace the custodian of the island's seal, first granted by Edward I in 1279.[3]

President of the Licensing Assembly

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The Bailiff presides over the Licensing Assembly, the remains of a body which once exercised considerable administrative authority, but now only has the powers to grant alcohol licences.[31] Lord Carswell's review in 2009 recommended that the Bailiff should remain the president of Licensing Assembly.[32]

Licensor of public entertainment

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Many types of public entertainment can only take place by permission of the Bailiff. This is done on consultation with public services and standards of public decency.[33]

The Carswell review noted that 'It is recognised generally that this is an executive function which it is not appropriate for the Bailiff to cary out, and successive Bailiff have wished to be relieved of it'.[34]

The last Bailiff to make extensive use of censorship powers, on advice of a consultative committee, was Sir Peter Crill. In 1992, he refused permission for a visiting amateur theatre group to perform Howard Brenton's play Christie in Love and required changes to the staging of a production of Shakespeare's Coriolanus by the Tricycle Theatre Company to prevent an actor's naked buttocks being visible to the audience.[35] The Monty Python film 'Life of Brian' was deemed suitable only for islanders over 18, which led to the production company refusing to let it be shown in Jersey.[36]

Holders of the office of Bailiff

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The list of bailiffs is only reliably traceable from Philippe L'Evesque's appointment in 1277, although earlier bailiffs are mentioned and the office may date from before 1204.

14th century

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  • Jean de Carteret 1302
  • Philippe Levesque 1309
  • Colin ? Hasteyn 1315
  • Henry de St. Martin 1318
  • Guillaume Longynnour c. 1324
  • Herny de St.Martin c. 1324
  • Pierre Ugoun (Ygon) c. 1324
  • Lucas de Espyard c. 1324
  • Pierre de la Haye c. 1324
  • Philippe de Vyncheleys c. 1324
  • Nicolas (or Colin) Hasteyn c. 1332
  • Philippe de Vincheleis c. 1332
  • Matthieu Le Loreour c. 1332
  • Pierre de la Haye c. 1332
  • Guillaume Brasdefer c. 1332
  • Guille Hastein (or Hastings) 1348
  • Roger de Powderham 1351
  • Guille Hastein (or Hastings) 1352
  • John Cockerels 1356
  • Raoul Lempriere 1362–1364
  • Richard de St. Martin 1367–1368
  • Richard le Petit 1368–1369
  • Richard de St. Martin 1370
  • Richard le Petit 1371
  • Richard de St. Martin 1372–1374
  • Thomas Brasdefer 1378–1391[37]
  • Giefrey Brasdefer 1396–1401[37]

15th century

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  • Colin le Petit 1402–1403[37]
  • Guillaume de Layc 1405–1406[37]
  • Thomas Danyel 1406–1425
  • Jean Bernard 1432, 1436–1444
  • Jean Lempriere 1434–1438
  • Thomas de la Cour 1435
  • Jean Payn 1444, 1446
  • Regnauld de Carteret 1446–1451
  • Jean Poingdestre 1452–1453[37]
  • Nicolas Morin 1459–1468
  • Jean Poingdestre 1468–1477
  • Guillaume Hareby 1479–1481, 1484–1485
  • Clement Le Hardy 1486–1493
  • Jean Nicolle 1494
  • Thomas Lempriere 1495–1513, 1415?

16th century

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  • Helier de Carteret 1513–1515
  • Helier de Carteret 1516–1523
  • Helier de Carteret 1529–1560
  • Hostes Nicolle 1561–1564
  • John Dumaresq 1566–1583
  • George Paulett 1583–1586
  • John Dumaresq 1586–1587
  • George Paulett 1587–1591[37]
  • John Dumaresq 1591–1594
  • George Paulett 1594–1614[37]

17th century

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18th century

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In this caricature of 1873, Bailiff of Jersey Jean Hammond (left) greets the newly arrived Lieutenant Governor with the question: "Your papers, please?"

19th century

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20th century

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Lord Coutanche, Bailiff 1935–1962

21st century

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Holders of the office of Deputy Bailiff

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  • Vernon Tomes 27 January 1986–30 June 1992
  • Philip Bailhache 10 January 1994
  • Francis Hamon 9 February 1995
  • Michael Birt February 2000
  • William Bailhache 2 November 2009–29 January 2015
  • Timothy Le Cocq 2 April 2015–17 October 2019
  • Robert MacRae 6 January 2020[42]–present

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Heath, Richard (17 October 2019). "New Bailiff sworn in". www.jerseyeveningpost.com. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  2. ^ Carswell, Lord. "The Review of the Roles of the Crown Officers (December 2010)" (PDF). Government of Jersey. Government of Jersey. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Bailhache, Philip (n.d.). The Cry for Constitutional Reform – A perspective from the Office of Bailiff. Jersey Law (jerseylaw.je). Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  4. ^ "History of the States Assembly". statesassembly.gov.je. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  5. ^ Platt, Colin (2009). A concise history of Jersey : a new perspective. Societe Jersiaise. ISBN 978-0-901897-46-6. OCLC 705959744.
  6. ^ Lempriére, Raoul (1974). History of the Channel Islands. Robert Hale Ltd. ISBN 978-0709142522.
  7. ^ Bisson, Mike. "Constitution - theislandwiki". www.theislandwiki.org. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  8. ^ Balleine's History of Jersey, Marguerite Syvret and Joan Stevens (1998) ISBN 1-86077-065-7
  9. ^ a b c Syvret, Marguerite (2011). Balleine's History of Jersey. The History Press. ISBN 978-1860776502.
  10. ^ "The Review of the Roles of the Crown Officers" (PDF). December 2010.
  11. ^ Redoulès, Elodie (6 August 2021). "Jurat of seven years sworn in as Lieutenant Bailiff". Bailiwick Express. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  12. ^ Carswell, Lord. "The Review of the Roles of the Crown Officers" (PDF). Government of Jersey. Government of Jersey. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  13. ^ Carswell, Lord. "The Review of the Roles of the Crown Officers" (PDF). Government of Jersey. Government of Jersey. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  14. ^ a b "The Bailiff of Jersey". statesassembly.gov.je. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Bailiff of Jersey (Vacancy in Office) Law 1959". Jersey Legal Information Board. Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  16. ^ Crill, Peter (2005). A Little Brief Authority. Great Malvern: Cappella Archive. p. 235. ISBN 1-902918-31-2.
  17. ^ Carswell, Lord. "The Review of the Roles of the Crown Officers" (PDF). The Review of the Roles of the Crown Officers (2009). Government of Jersey. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  18. ^ "States of Jersey Law 2005, article 3". Jersey Legal Information Board. Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  19. ^ Le Rendu, Luke (2004). Jersey: Independent Dependency?. Bradford on Avon: ELPS. p. 36. ISBN 1 903341 89 2.
  20. ^ "States of Jersey Law". Jersey Legal Information Board. Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  21. ^ "States of Jersey Law 1966 article 21". Jersey Legal Information Board. Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  22. ^ Le Hérissier, R.G. (1972). The Development of the Government of Jersey 1771-1972. Jersey: States of Jersey. p. 76.
  23. ^ Clothier, Sir Cecil. "Report of the Review Panel on the Machinery of Government in Jersey" (PDF). Government of Jersey. Government of Jersey. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  24. ^ Carswell, Lord. "The Review of the Roles of the Crown Officers" (PDF). Government of Jersey. Government of Jersey. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  25. ^ Oldham QC, Frances. "Report of the Independent Care Inquiry". Government of Jersey. Government of Jersey. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  26. ^ "Elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the States Assembly: Selection and Appointment, P.83/2024" (PDF). States Assembly. States Assembly. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  27. ^ Jeune, James. "Ministerial factions begin to emerge over the Bailiff's future". Bailiwick Express, Jersey edition, 25 November 2024. Bailiwick Publishing. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  28. ^ Carswell, Lord. "The Review of the Roles of the Crown Officers" (PDF). Government of Jersey. Government of Jersey. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  29. ^ MacRae, Robert. "The Bailiff's Role as Guardian of the Constitution" (PDF). Jersey and Guernsey Law Review (2020). Jersey and Guernsey Law Review. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  30. ^ Carswell, Lord. "The Review of the Roles of the Crown Officers" (PDF). Government of Jersey. Government of Jersey. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
  31. ^ "Licensing (Jersey) Law 1974". Jersey Legal Information Board. Jersey Legal Information Board. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  32. ^ Carswell, Lord. "The Review of the Roles of the Crown Officers" (PDF). Government of Jersey. Government of Jersey. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  33. ^ "Organising public events". Government of Jersey. Government of Jersey.
  34. ^ Carswell, Lord. "The Review of the Roles of the Crown Officers" (PDF). Government of Jersey. Government of Jersey. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  35. ^ Marianne MacDonald, 'Jersey's censors ban Christie play', The Independent, 28 August 1993, p 3.
  36. ^ "Brian exposed at last in Jersey". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
  37. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Jersey's Bailiffs through the years". Jersey Evening Post. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  38. ^ "William Venables Vernon - theislandwiki". www.theislandwiki.org.
  39. ^ "Charles Malet de Carteret - theislandwiki". www.theislandwiki.org.
  40. ^ "Europe | Jersey | Michael Birt is to become bailiff". BBC News. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  41. ^ "Jersey Bailiff William Bailhache sworn in". BBC. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  42. ^ "Jersey's new Deputy Bailiff is sworn in".
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