Bailiff of Jersey

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:

  • 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.

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.