IT is announced from Government House that His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor has appointed Mrs Jayne Hughes as Deputy High Bailiff. Currently a prosecuting advocate in the Attorney General’s Chambers, Mrs Hughes succeeds Alastair Montgomerie as Deputy High Bailiff following his appointment as Deemster. This is believed to be the Island’s first appointment of a female to a judicial position on a permanent, salaried basis. Mrs Hughes has been with the Attorney General’s Chambers since 2008, having previously spent 12 years with the Crown Prosecution Service in the UK, latterly as Assistant District Crown Prosecutor in Liverpool. Mrs Hughes, who is married with two grown-up children, commented: ‘I am honoured and delighted to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor to the position of Deputy High Bailiff. ‘I am very conscious of the historic significance of my appointment and look forward to serving the residents of the Isle of Man in a judicial capacity by assisting both the High Bailiff, John Needham, in carrying out the High Bailiff’s functions and the Deemsters with the work load of the High Court. ‘I have enjoyed my time as a Prosecutor in the Chambers of the Attorney General but I now look forward to the varied and not insignificant challenges that lie ahead. I am very grateful for the welcome, encouragement, and assistance that I have received since my arrival in the Isle of Man three years ago and I hope to be able to repay that invaluable support in my new role.’ Ends