Court officially scrubs "unworkable" by-election for St. Saviour Constable

Saturday 07 May 2022

The next Constable in St. Saviour will be chosen on the same day as the general election on 22 June, despite the law stating that a by-election should be held just days before.

Constable Sadie Le Sueur-Rennard passed away on 8 April.

Taking a strict interpretation of the law, a by-election would have had to be held on 15 June; however the law also says that it should be held “as soon as convenient”.

It was this latter proviso that the Royal Court used to base its decision on Friday to cancel the by-election and order an election on 22 June.

In doing so, the Court was agreeing with the Attorney General, parish, Comité des Connétables and Jersey Electoral Commission that it would be “unworkable, impractical and inconvenient” to hold a by-election so close 22 June, with any successful candidate having to stand again just days later.

Since Mrs Le Sueur-Rennard’s death, the parish’s Senior Procureur has been discharging the functions of Constable.

So far, St. Saviour Deputy Kevin Lewis is the only candidate to say they want to stand as Constable in the parish.

Mrs Le Sueur-Rennard's funeral was held on Tuesday.