Jurat - Channel Islands

Channel Islands

Under the ancien régime in France, in several towns, of the south-west, such as La Rochelle and Bordeaux, the jurats were members of the municipal body. The title was also borne by officials, corresponding to aldermen, in the Cinque Ports, but is now chiefly used as a title of office in the Channel Islands.

There are two bodies, consisting each of twelve jurats, for the Bailiwicks of Jersey and of Guernsey respectively. They form, with the Bailiff as presiding judge, the Royal Court in each Bailiwick. In Guernsey and Jersey, the Jurats, as lay people, are judges of fact rather than law, though they preside over land conveyances and liquor licencing. In Alderney, however, the Jurats are judges of both fact and law (assisted by their learned Clerk) in both civil and criminal matters.

Until the constitutional reforms introduced in the 1940s to separate legislature and judiciary, they were elected for life, in Jersey by islandwide suffrage, in Guernsey by the States of Election, and were a constituent part of the legislative bodies.

Although no longer a political post, the office of Jurat is still considered the highest elected position to which a citizen can aspire.

However, in Alderney, Jurats are appointed by the Crown, following a recommendation from the President of Alderney.