Guernsey’s first female bailiff is to be installed on Thursday, the first in the nearly 750 year history of the role.
Jessica Roland – the current Deputy Bailiff – will become the 91st Bailiff of Guernsey in a ceremony at 14:00 today.
She will succeed Sir Richard McMahon who has been in post since 2020.
The swearing in will take place during a special sitting of the Royal Court, which will be livestreamed on its website.
The position of Bailiff is a hangover of Norman culture that remains in the Bailiwick.
When the Bailli – as it was originally known – was created as a position in 1278, the holder looked after the island for the Duke of Normandy.
Born in Guernsey in 1969, Ms Roland was educated at Forest Primary School before attending the Grammar School for Girls.
She then studied at Sussex University, The College of Law in York and the Université de Caen.
She was admitted as a solicitor in 1997 and qualified as a Guernsey advocate in 1999 and enjoyed a successful career, rising to Managing Partner at a Guernsey law firm before taking the Deputy Bailiff role in 2020.
