Deputy Bailiff Robert MacRae has been appointed the next Bailiff of Jersey by His Majesty the King, it was confirmed today.
Mr MacRae will become the most senior civic and judicial figure in Jersey and will take over from Sir Timothy Le Cocq, who is set to retire on 19 October.
His swearing-in is due to take place five days later, on 24 October, when he will become the 91st person to hold the post.
As Bailiff, Mr MacRae will serve as both the presiding officer of the States Assembly and the Island’s chief judge — a role that also includes representing Jersey in times of national significance like Liberation Day.
In a statement, Mr MacRae said he felt “deeply honoured” by the appointment, which he described as an opportunity to serve the community across all aspects of Island life.
He said: “I feel deeply honoured to have been appointed by His Majesty The King to serve as Bailiff of Jersey. The ancient office of Bailiff has been at the heart of Island life for over 800 years; in times of need the Bailiff has defended Jersey’s rights and privileges, and in times of celebration and remembrance the Bailiff has represented the people of Jersey both at home and overseas. I will do my best as presiding officer of the States, Chief Justice of the Island and Jersey’s civic head, to serve our community, as Sir Timothy Le Cocq has done.”
Sir Timothy, who has held the position since 2019, announced his plans to step down last year.
In a statement, he said he was “delighted” to confirm Mr MacRae’s appointment as his successor.
“I was delighted to be able to announce in the States Assembly that Mr MacRae has been named as my successor by His Majesty The King. Mr MacRae has a proven track record of service to Jersey which I have no doubt he will continue to the highest standard during his time as Bailiff. I wish him every success.”
Mr MacRae was educated at La Moye School and Victoria College, before studying law at the University of Exeter.
He worked as a barrister in England for nearly a decade before returning to Jersey in 2001 and later qualifying as an Advocate.
He became a partner at law firm Carey Olsen in 2005 and was appointed to the office of Attorney General and Queen’s Counsel in 2015.
He became Deputy Bailiff in 2020.
During his time in this role, he presided over a range of complex cases and introduced changes to the way domestic abuse trials are handled in court, which included new directions for juries to help them better understand the nature and context of abuse.
He has also remained involved in legal education and training, supporting young lawyers, jurats, and judges in criminal and children’s law.
