Top prosecutor appointed from private sector

Wednesday 22 October 2014

One of Jersey’s top lawyers, Robert MacRae, has been appointed Attorney General.

The Bailiff’s Office announced yesterday afternoon that the Victoria College-educated Jerseyman had been appointed as the States’ most senior lawyer and head of the prosecution service.

Advocate MacRae was described as Carey Olsen’s “Standout Advocate” in the Legal 500 and as “the best advocate on the island” by Chambers UK. He has been a partner at Carey Olsen since 2005, and practiced as an English Barrister in the West Country for ten years before returning to Jersey in 2001.

The announcement from the Bailiff’s Office said that the Queen had approved the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Justice to appoint Advocate Macrae to succeed outgoing AG Tim Le Cocq, who is due to take on the role of Deputy Bailiff next year.

A short statement from Advocate MacRae said: “I am honoured and delighted to have an opportunity to serve the Island in this challenging post. I am very much looking forward to tackling all aspects of the role.”

Although he has prosecuted cases on behalf of the Attorney General, the appointment is unusual in the sense that Advocate MacRae comes straight into the position from the private sector. Usually, lawyers graduate from the position of Solicitor General up to Attorney General, before moving on to Deputy Bailiff and then Bailiff.