A retired banker has been elected as Jersey’s newest jurat following a tightly-contested vote.
St Brelade-based Donald Christopher Gardener (65) received 37 votes from the Electoral College last week.
The other candidate, retired advocate Julian Clive Gollop, received 36.
Mr Gardener was previously the head of funds at Barclays bank and is a real estate lending specialist.
He fills the vacancy created by Jurat Steven William Austin-Vautier.
A Jurat is one of the oldest and most important judicial roles in Jersey, dating back to the 1300s.
They are responsible for determining the facts of a court case, and will work with judges to decide sentences. Jurats also hold the power to determine verdicts.
In addition, they deal with matters like granting or refusing bail applications, form part of Jersey’s Licensing Assembly, and oversee elections.
Jurats are appointed by the Electoral College, which is made up of the Bailiff, other members of the Royal Court, and elected States Members.
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Express previously sat down with retired Jurat and Lieutenant Bailiff Collette Crill to discuss diversity on the Royal Court bench, the importance of having women in positions of power, and some of her most memorable moments in the role.
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