Royal Court looking for new Judge

Thursday 25 June 2020

The Royal Court is recruiting a new full-time Judge, following the retirement of Guernsey's first ever Judge of the Royal Court earlier this year.

Judge Russell Finch OBE retired from the position in February this year after turning 70, but has been sitting on some cases since in a part-time capacity.

Having served as the full time Magistrate from 1997, and then promoted as a Lieutenant Bailiff of the Royal Court in 2001, he became Guernsey's inaugural 'Judge of the Royal Court' in 2005.

However he was required by law to stand down in February after he turned 70, an age beyond which full-time Judges must retire. 

The Royal Court is now looking for a long-term successor.

"It is envisaged that the appointment will be made with a retirement age of 68, which may thereafter be extended by the Court to the age of 70, unless the successful candidate were to request initial appointment to a lower age, not being below 65," said a spokesperson for the Royal Court. "Previous experience of judicial office or of Crown office is not essential."

To be eligible for the office of Judge of the Royal Court, applicants must have been in practice, for at least 10 years, as either:

• an Advocate of the Royal Court of Guernsey
• a member of the Bar of England and Wales, the Bar of Northern Ireland, or the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland
• a Solicitor of the Supreme Court / Senior Courts of England and Wales, of the Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland, or in Scotland.

The closing date for applications is Friday 17 July.