Goodbye to the Bailiff

Thursday 22 January 2015

Bailiff Sir Michael Birt undertook one of his last acts in the job yesterday when he unveiled his formal portrait in the Royal Court.

Sir Michael retires from his post at the end of the week, and it’s traditional that former Bailiffs have their portraits hanging in the court.

He is the 88^th person to hold the post, which combines the roles of chief judge in the Island and “Speaker” of the States Assembly, where he presides but doesn’t have a vote. He was knighted in 2012 “for services to the Crown and the community in Jersey”.

Sir Michael will be succeeded by William Bailhache – the current Deputy Bailiff, and the younger brother of Sir Philip Bailhache, who held the role before being elected to the States and who is now External Relations Minister.

Before getting the top job, Sir Michael was Attorney General between 1994 and 2000, before serving as Deputy Bailiff from 2000 to 2009.

Yesterday was Sir Michael’s last day presiding over the States, and tributes were paid to him for the calm and gentle humour which he had shown in the role.