About the Master of the Royal Court
Purpose of the Master’s Role
To act as the Island’s Interlocutory Judge and as a Judge in Chambers.
Principal Accountabilities
Case Management
All aspects of civil litigation in conformity with the overriding objective of ensuring that actions and the principal issues are brought on for hearing before the Royal Court as efficiently as possible, taking into full account Practice Directions and guidelines relevant thereto.
Preside over all interlocutory applications and matters and act as determining judge in respect of them. These cover a wide range, the most common being summonses for directions, for summary judgment, for leave to amend or for striking out pleadings, for orders for security of costs, for further and better particulars of pleadings already filed and for orders covering third parties.
Decide when actions are ready for hearing by the Royal Court, to determine the issues to be tried and issue certificates accordingly. Monitor and review Court files for this purpose.
Draw up and issue accurate, intelligible and unambiguous Acts recording Masters’ decisions and concerning consent orders and the settlement of legal actions. Prepare case summaries to assist the Royal Court.
Consider applications for and make orders for the service of legal process out of the jurisdiction and for substituted service thereof.
Process Applications and Fees
On filing requests and/or applications parties should also provide the fees using the Online Payment System.
It is most important to review the guidance and video prior to using this system.
Consent Orders
Parties to provide fee with application whether by application or in writing.
Parties may wish to provide a draft consent order for approval, once the Master has approved, parties will be instructed to file the signed version with the fee for processing. These are dealt with electronically.
Service Outs/Substituted Service Applications
Hard copies are not required -these are now dealt with electronically. To be provided to k.harries@courts.je and copies sent to. JGRcourtdocuments@courts.je when filing the application, marked for the attention of the Master.
- Documents to be provided:
- Covering Letter with written request/submissions/Return Date
- Affidavit & supporting evidence (if required)
- Summons
- Draft Act of Court
- Court Receipt using New Online Payment System
Date Fix Appointments
Parties when applying to set a hearing before the Master must send their request to k.harries@courts.je requesting an appointment.
When applying a Summons parties are to include the fees for the date fix and the hearing slot.
On the Papers
Parties will agree and approach the Master by requesting that their application be dealt with on the papers
Hearing Slots
Counsel/Parties are to agree between themselves the timescale prior to applying any requests.
Relisting
Hearings to be relisted at the request of the parties shall be addressed by requesting to the Master, once approved the Master’s Secretary will provide a date fix appointment requesting parties to provide the fees for the date fix and hearing slot to be filed the day before the date fix appointment, if not provided this will result in the date fix appointment being moved.
If the Court requires to move a hearing of its own motion, there will be no charge incurred.
Hearings implemented by the Master
Case Management
The Master regularly reviews all open cases with a view to improving our civil case management processes and in particular our management information which informs those processes.
1st Directions Hearings pursuant to Rule 6/26(1) of the Royal Court Rules 2004
Subsequent Hearings relating to orders set down by the Court