A LAW to amend further the Royal Court (Jersey) Law 1948.

THE STATES, subject to the sanction of Her Most Excellent Majesty in Council, have adopted the following Law –

“9      Retirement and resignation of Jurats

(1)     Subject to this Article a Jurat ceases to hold office on attaining the age of 72.

(2)     A Jurat may indicate an intention to retire before that age by giving not less than 6 months’ notice to the Bailiff, or any other person nominated by the Bailiff, provided that at the end of that period of 6 months the Jurat will have completed 6 years’ service.

(3)     The Bailiff may permit the retirement of up to 2 Jurats in any year following an indication of intention to retire under paragraph (2).

(4)     However –

(a)     the number permitted to retire is reduced by the number of Jurats otherwise ceasing to hold office in that year (to a maximum of 2);

(b)     if more Jurats than the number permitted under this Article have indicated an intention to retire in any one year, the length of service will determine who may retire under this Article.

(5)     A Jurat may be required by the Court to resign –

(a)     if for a continuous period of 12 months the Jurat fails, without good reason, to discharge the duties of the office; or

(b)     if, in the opinion of the Court, the Jurat is permanently unable for any reason efficiently to carry out the duties of the office.

(6)     A Jurat who is permitted to retire or required to resign under this Article must present to the Bailiff, for transmission to Her Majesty in Council, a petition praying that Her Majesty in Council may be pleased to permit the Jurat to retire, or resign from, the office of Jurat.

(7)     If a Jurat required to resign under paragraph (5) has not within a reasonable time presented a petition as required by paragraph (6), the Jurat is removable by Order of Her Majesty in Council on the petition of the Superior Number of the Royal Court.

(8)     The retirement or resignation of a Jurat under this Article triggers a vacancy in the number of Jurats for the purposes of Article 4.

9AA   Appointment to serve as a Jurat after retirement

(1)     Despite Article 1, a Jurat who has ceased to hold office or retired under Article 9 (other than by being required to resign under paragraph (5) of that Article) and who has not attained the age of 75 years may be called upon to serve as a Jurat for any period or in relation to any cause or matter as the Bailiff may determine.

(2)     A person serving as a Jurat under paragraph (1) is not included in the total of 12 Jurats that may be appointed under customary law.

(3)     An oath under Article 7 taken by a person before being called to serve under this Article continues to be binding on the person for the duration of that service.”.

“9A   Appointment of Guernsey Jurats to act as Jurats in Jersey”.