Jurat (through French from mediaeval Latin juratus, one sworn, Lat. jurare, to swear) is a name given to the sworn holders of certain offices.

Under the ancien régime in France, in several towns, of the south-west, such as Rochelle and Bordeaux, the jurats were members of the municipal body. The title was also borne by officials, corresponding to aldermen, in the Cinque Ports, but is now chiefly used as a title of office in the Channel Islands.

Channel Islands

There are two bodies, consisting each of twelve jurats, for the bailiwicks of Jersey and of Guernsey respectively. They form, with the bailiff as presiding judge, the Royal Court of justice in each bailiwick. Until the constitutional reforms brought in in the 1940s to separate legislature and judiciary, they were elected for life, in Jersey by islandwide suffrage, in Guernsey by the States of Election, and were a constituent part of the legislative bodies. In Jersey, the jurats were replaced in the legislature by directly-elected senators, and in Guernsey by indirectly-elected conseillers (since abolished). Jurats now serve as non-professional judges until retirement (at 72) and are indirectly elected by electoral college. Although no longer a political post, the office of jurat is still considered the highest elected position to which a citizen can aspire.

English law

In English law, the word jurat (juratum) is applied to that part of an affidavit which contains the names of the parties swearing the affidavit and the person before whom it was sworn, the date, place and other necessary particulars.