Attorney General of the British Virgin Islands: Difference between revisions

The '''Attorney General of the British Virgin Islands''' is the principal legal adviser to the Government of the [[British Virgin Islands]].<ref>Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, section 58(2)</ref> Under the [[Constitution of the British Virgin Islands]] the Attorney General sits ''ex officio'' in both the [[House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands]]<ref>Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, section 63(1)</ref> and in the [[Cabinet of the British Virgin Islands]],<ref>Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, section 47(1)</ref> but is not permitted to vote in either. The Attorney General also sits on the Committee for the Prerogative of Mercy<ref>Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, section 44(1)</ref> and on the National Security Council.<ref>Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, section 57(1)(d)</ref>▼

The office traces its origins back to the reintroduction of democracy in the British Virgin Islands pursuant to the [[British Virgin Islands general election, 1950|1950 general election]]. At that time the Legislative Council (as it was then known) had to look to the Attorney General of the Leeward Islands for support. This was regarded as unsatisfactory and following the [[British Virgin Islands general election, 1954|1954 general election]] Herman Besson was appointed to the title of Legal Assistant to the Legislative Council. In 1959 the title of the office was changed to Crown Attorney, and subsequent to the introduction of Ministerial Government following the [[British Virgin Islands general election, 1967|1967 general election]] the office was titled Attorney General.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://216.197.123.192/Portals/0/Forms/Election%20Information%20and%20Results%201950-2011.pdf |title=BVI election and information results 1950–2011 |publisher=BVI Deputy Governor's Office |pages=195–199}}</ref>▼