Deemster
| Isle of Man |
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A deemster (Manx: briw) is a judge in the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man High Court is presided over by a deemster or the Judge of Appeal. The deemsters also promulgate the Laws on Tynwald Day by reading them out to the people in English and Manx.
Previously the First and Second Deemsters had seats in the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man. The Second Deemster was removed by the Isle of Man Constitution (Amendment) Act 1965 and the First Deemster was removed by Isle of Man Constitution (Amendment) Act 1975.
There are only three full time judges or deemsters in the Isle of Man. These are the First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls, who is also the Deputy Lieutenant Governor, the Second Deemster, and the Deputy Deemster.
The current Judges of the High Court of Justice, appointed by Queen Elizabeth II (on the advice of the UK's Secretary of State for Justice) are:
- the First Deemster (Manx: Briwnyssey) and Clerk of the Rolls (Manx: Cleragh ny Lioaryn), Michael Kerruish QC
- the Second Deemster, David Doyle QC
- the Deputy Deemster, Andrew Williamson and
- the Judge of Appeal, Geoffrey Tattersall QC
By virtue of being ex-officio Deputy Governor, the First Deemster acts in place of the Lieutenant Governor during a vacancy in that office.
Unlike judges in the United Kingdom, Manx judges have no security of tenure, and thus legal protection against dismissal by the government. The process whereby the appointment and removal of Manx judges occurs on the formal advice of United Kingdom politicians is seen as an effective alternative.
First Deemsters
- Daniel Lace, 1765-1812
- John Crellin, 1812-1816
- Norris Moore, 1816-1819
- Thomas Gawne, 1819-1823
- John Christian, 1823-1847
- John Joseph Heywood, 1847-1855
- Sir William Drinkwater, 1855-1898
- Sir James Gell, 1898-1900
- Thomas Kneen, 1900-1905
- Stevenson Stewart Moore, 1905-1916
First Deemsters and Clerk of the Rolls
- Stevenson Stewart Moore, 1916-1921
- Charles Cheslyn Callow, 1921-1934
- Reginald Douglas Farrant, 1934-1947
- William Percy Cowley, 1947-1958
- Sydney James Kneale, 1958-1969
- George Edgar Moore, 1969-1974
- Robert Kinley Eason, 1974-1980
- Arthur Christian Luft, 1980-1988
- John William Corrin QC, , 1988-1998
- Thomas William Cain QC, 1998-2003
- Michael Kerruish QC, 2003 - Present
Second Deemsters
- Peter John Heywood, 1765-1768
- Daniel Mylrea, 1768-1773
- Thomas Moore, 1773-1794
- John Crellin, 1794-1816
- Thomas Gawne, 1816-1819
- John Christian, 1819-1820
- John McHutchin, 1820-1821
- John Joseph Heywood, 1821-1847
- Sir William Drinkwater, 1847-1855
- John Clucas Stephen, 1855-1880
- Sir Alured Dumbell, 1880-1883
- Richard Sherwood, 1883-1884
- John Frederick Gill, 1884-1899
- Thomas Kneen, 1899-1900
- Stevenson Stewart Moore, 1900-1905
- Charles Callow, 1905-1921
- Frederick Malcolm Lamothe, 1921-1925
- Reginald Douglas Farrant, 1925-1934
- William Percy Cowley, 1934-1947
- Ramsey Gelling Johnson, 1947-1954
- James Arthur Cain, 1954-1957
- Sydney James Kneale, 1957-1958
- Bruce MacPherson, 1958-1969
- Robert Eason, 1969-1974
- Arthur Luft, 1974-1980
- Jack Corrin QC, 1980-1988
- Henry Callow, , 1988-1993
- Thomas William Cain QC, , 1993-1998
- Michael Kerruish QC, 1998-2003
- David Doyle QC, 2003 - Present
Deputy Deemsters
- The Hon Mr Justice Sir Peter Smith QC, ?-?
- Andrew Williamson, 2002 - 2008
- Andrew Corlett, 2008 - Present
See also
- Tynwald
- Clerk of the Rolls
- Manx Judiciary
External links
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia; from the article "Deemster". Image Credit.
