New Lieutenant Bailiff for island

A former newspaper editor has been sworn in as Jersey's new Lieutenant Bailiff.

Jurat Michael Rumfitt is taking up the honorary position, at the request of the Bailiff, following the retirement of Mazel Le Ruez.

He was sworn to office as a Jurat in 1991.

Since then he has served on a number of delegations and committees of Jersey's Royal Court.

New responsibilities

Most recently he was appointed the chairman of the Prison Board of Visitors.

Jurat Rumfitt spent much of his life in journalism and ended his professional career as editor of the Jersey Evening Post.

In his new role as Lieutenant Bailiff, he will be called to preside over the Royal Court and the Licensing Assembly from time to time.

In swearing Jurat Rumfitt into office, the Bailiff, Sir Philip Bailhache, thanked him for agreeing to take on the new responsibilities and assured members of the Royal Court the Jurat would fulfil his duties with dignity and discretion.