Geoffrey Rowland
Encyclopedia
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, is the current Bailiff of Guernsey (since 2005).
Life
Rowland was called to the English Bar at Gray's InnGray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1970 and admitted as an Advocate of the Royal Court, Guernsey, in 1971. He was in practice as an Advocate of the Royal Court in the firm of Collas, Day & Rowland 1971 - 1992. He was Vice Chairman of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission 1997 - 2002. He was then recommended for Crown Office and left private practice when Senior Partner.
He successively held office as H M Comptroller (Solicitor General) 1992 - 1999, and H M Procureur (Attorney General) 1999 - 2002. He was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1993. He also held office as H M Receiver General 1999 - 2002.
Elevated to the Judiciary, he held the office of Deputy Bailiff 2002 - 2005 and was installed as Bailiff of Guernsey in June 2005. The Bailiff of Guernsey is ex-officio President of the Guernsey Court of Appeal. Geoffrey has also been a Judge of the Jersey Court of Appeal since 2005.
He became a Fellow of the Society of Advanced Legal Studies 2001 and Honorary Master of the Bench of Gray's Inn 2008. Honorary Doctorates of Laws were conferred by the University of Bournemouth (2006) and the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
(2009).
He held office as Provincial Grand Master, United Grand Lodge of Freemasons of England, 2000 - 2007.
He is married to Diana, and they have two sons, Peter and John.
He received the honour of knighthood (Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
) in the 2009 Birthday Honours.