Michael Birt (Bailiff of Jersey)
Encyclopedia
Mr Michael Birt is the 88th Bailiff
of Jersey
in the Channel Islands
.
Michael Cameron St John Birt was educated in Jersey at St. Michael's Preparatory School
then at Marlborough College
.
He went on to read law at Magdalene College, Cambridge
. He was called to the English Bar in 1970 and practiced as a barrister at 2 Crown Office Row for five years. He then returned to Jersey and qualified at the Jersey Bar in 1977. From 1976 to 1993 he was in private practice with the Jersey law firm Ogier & Le Cornu
.
In January 1994 he was appointed as HM Attorney General for Jersey. In February 2000, he became Deputy Bailiff.
In July 2009, he was appointed Bailiff, in succession to Sir Philip Bailhache
. A group of protestors demonstrated outside Birt's swearing-in ceremony in the Royal Court of Jersey, angry about decisions not to bring more prosecutions following investigations into child abuse in Jersey. As Bailiff of Jersey, Birt is an ex officio member of the Guernsey Court of Appeal.
Bailiff (Channel Islands)
The Bailiff is the chief justice in each of the Channel Island bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey, also serving as president of the legislature and having ceremonial and executive functions. Each bailiwick has possessed its own bailiff since the islands were divided into two jurisdictions in the...
of Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
in the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
.
Michael Cameron St John Birt was educated in Jersey at St. Michael's Preparatory School
St. Michael's Preparatory School
St. Michael's Preparatory School is the largest private preparatory school in Jersey, situated in the parish of St. Saviour. The school acts as a feeder to many British public schools in the United Kingdom...
then at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
.
He went on to read law at Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College, Cambridge
Magdalene College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary Magdalene...
. He was called to the English Bar in 1970 and practiced as a barrister at 2 Crown Office Row for five years. He then returned to Jersey and qualified at the Jersey Bar in 1977. From 1976 to 1993 he was in private practice with the Jersey law firm Ogier & Le Cornu
Ogier (law firm)
Ogier is an offshore law firm which provides legal and fiduciary services. It advises on BVI, Cayman, Guernsey, and Jersey law as well as providing complementary administration services. It has 52 partners, 135 associates, 315 administrators and over 300 support staff...
.
In January 1994 he was appointed as HM Attorney General for Jersey. In February 2000, he became Deputy Bailiff.
In July 2009, he was appointed Bailiff, in succession to Sir Philip Bailhache
Philip Bailhache
Sir Philip Martin Bailhache KBE is a Jersey politician and lawyer. He was elected as a Senator in the States of Jersey in October 2011. He previously held elected office as Deputy of Grouville 1972-1975...
. A group of protestors demonstrated outside Birt's swearing-in ceremony in the Royal Court of Jersey, angry about decisions not to bring more prosecutions following investigations into child abuse in Jersey. As Bailiff of Jersey, Birt is an ex officio member of the Guernsey Court of Appeal.
External links
- Official biography http://www.jerseycourts.je/about/jerseys-judiciary/bailiff/
- Profile on Guernsey Society website http://www.guernsey-society.org.uk/donkipedia/index.php5?title=Michael_Birt