Courts of Guernsey

It is likely that the oldest law that the Royal Court is called upon to provide judgement over is the Clameur de haro, a Norman form of injunction whereby the aggrieved party makes a plea for justice to Rollo, the 10th century founder of the Duchy of Normandy.

The Ordinary Court deals with all original civil business beyond the competence of the Magistrate's Court such as property disputes, company liquidations, guardianships, evictions, terre mises a l'amende applications and the swearing-in of Parish Officials and Police Officers.

Guernsey and Jersey work closely together with the bailiff of each appointed to the opposite island’s Court of Appeal so that cases that may have a conflict of interest can be heard.

Dealing with a mixture of issues, such as explosives licenses, water courses, charitable funds, “Salle Publique Licences” and is an opportunity to admit to the Guernsey Bar, qualified students.

[17] The court used to be held in an upper room in the Town Church where its most notorious decision was the sentencing in 1556 of the Guernsey Martyrs for heresy.

Chief Pleas (French: Chefs Plaids; Sercquiais: Cheurs Pliaids) is the parliament of Sark.

Appeals are made to the Royal Court of Guernsey, which also exercises some original jurisdiction in criminal matters in Alderney, and thence to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

There are no legal impediments to arbitrating any type of dispute, except where the relief sought by the claimant is only available from specific bodies or institutions, such as the Royal Court.

Guernsey's Royal Court and officials employed standard French from the Medieval period to the mid 20th century.

[28] The earliest reference to a court building dates from the 12th century, when reference is made to a building in St Peter Port in a district known as La Plaiderie (literally translated as the place of pleading) where courts were held in the King's barn, although it had to be vacated at lunch time so a corn market could take place in the afternoons.

[29] During the English Civil War it was relocated temporarily to Elizabeth College to put it out of range of the Royalist cannon on Castle Cornet.

[32] The qualification route is normally through obtaining a Bachelor of Laws degree in England, then a qualification as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales, followed by vocational training, passing Guernsey Bar exams and then obtaining a Certificat d’Etudes Juridiques Françaises et Normandes from Caen University[33] Appointed by the Crown.

Rollo, on being given his lands by Charles the Simple in 911AD, established a superior court in Rouen, which had the name of Eschequier or Exchequer, to which appeals could be made.