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A lawyer and an optometrist have been elected as the island's two newest Jurats.
The newest members of the Jurats bench were chosen by the Island’s Electoral College - made up of the Bailiff, Jurats, Advocates, solicitors and States Members - by way of a vote in the Royal Court today.
Karen Le Cornu and Andrew Cornish, who will be sworn in to the ancient role next Wednesday, replace Jurats Anthony Olsen and Rozanne Thomas who both have to retire by law upon reaching the age of 72.
Three candidates were proposed for the two positions. Former Magistrate’s Court Greffier David Le Heuzé’s nomination was unsuccessful.
In the first vote, lawyer Mrs Le Cornu attracted 54 of the 94 ballots cast, meaning she was automatically chosen, having attained more than 50% of the vote.
Pictured: Jurats Rozanne Thomas and Anthony Olsen are stepping down from the bench.
Mrs Le Cornu (53) was proposed by Advocate Marcus Pallot and seconded by Senator Lyndon Farnham.
Describing her as an “outstanding candidate”, Advocate Pallot told the packed Royal Court that Mrs Le Cornu had began her career in banking and saved up to put herself through university, where she studied law.
She qualified as an English Barrister and took on a tenancy at St Philips’ Chambers in Birmingham, specialising in family, civil and criminal law.
Moving to Jersey with her husband, she worked at Ogier and Mourant law firms and also taught the corporate law paper for the ICSA exam.
“She is a professional of unimpeachable honesty, integrity and judgment,” said Advocate Pallot.
Senator Farnham added that Mrs Le Cornu was a mother of four who enjoyed sea swimming, running and cycling. She had been chair of the Caring Cooks charity and also volunteered weekly at the League of Friends café at the Hospital.
With Mrs Le Cornu appointed, a second vote was held, with optometrist Mr Cornish receiving 68 of the 94 votes.
He had been proposed by Advocate Nuno Santos-Costa and seconded by Deputy Gregory Guida.
Advocate Santos-Costa said that Mr Cornish (62) was not only a well-known optometrist but also had 26 years’ experience of the judicial system, having served on the Jersey Police Complaints Authority and the Jersey Police Authority.
He had also served a full term on the Youth Panel.
“In both his professional and personal life, he has shown that he has got common sense in spades, which is the greatest quality a Jurat can have” said Advocate Santos-Costa.
Deputy Guida added that Mr Cornish had been born and educated in Bedfordshire and had moved to Jersey as an essential employee. Four years later, he opened his own practice and had run a successful business for 25 years.
Married with two grown-up children, he is a past member of the Jersey Round Table and former chair of Joint Charities Christmas Appeal. He has also served as a governor at both Victoria College and Jersey College for Girls.
Mr Le Heuzé had been proposed by Advocate David Steenson and seconded by Senator Steve Pallett.
The role of Jurat can be traced back to 1204, when King John offered Jersey its judicial and parliamentary independence in exchange for the Island's loyalty to the Crown.
Today, 12 Jurats sit as judges of fact, or lay jurors, in Royal Court criminal and civil cases. They also oversee elections as ‘returning officers' and serve as members of the Island's Licensing Assembly and the Probation Board.
Two Jurats can also hold the title of Lieutenant-Bailiff, who can deputise for the Bailiff as a judge and for ceremonial duties.
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