First Deemster
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A Deemster ( gv, briw) is a
judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...
in the
Isle of Man ) , anthem = "O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europe ...
. The
High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man High may refer to: Science and technology * Height * High (atmospheric), a high-pressure area * High (computability), a quality of a Turing degree, in computability theory * High (tectonics), in geology an area where relative tectonic uplift to ...
is presided over by a deemster or, in the case of the appeal division of that court, a deemster and the
Judge of Appeal The Judge of Appeal is a part-time judge in the Isle of Man High Court who only sits in the Staff of Government Division, the appeal court. The position was created by the Judicature (Amendment) Act 1918 which also amalgamated the offices of F ...
. The deemsters also promulgate the Laws on
Tynwald Day Tynwald Day ( gv, Laa Tinvaal) is the National Day of the Isle of Man, usually observed on 5 July (if this is a Saturday or Sunday, then on the following Monday). On this day, the Island's legislature, Tynwald, meets at St John's, Isle of Man, ...
by reading out brief summaries of them in
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
and Manx. In the past, the First and Second Deemsters had ex officio seats in the
Legislative Council of the Isle of Man The Legislative Council ( gv, Yn Choonceil Slattyssagh) is the upper chamber of Tynwald, the legislature of the Isle of Man. The abbreviation "LegCo" is often used. It consists of eleven members (MLCs): * Eight members elected by the House of ...
. The Second Deemster was removed from the council in 1965 and the First Deemster in 1975. There are currently (2017) three full-time Deemsters. These are the First Deemster and
Clerk of the Rolls The Clerk of the Rolls ( gv, Cleragh ny Lioaryn) is a judge and Head of the Judiciary in the Isle of Man. This position was formerly distinct from that of the Deemsters but now the Clerk of the Rolls is held jointly with the office of First Deem ...
(who is also the Deputy Governor), the Second Deemster, and an additional full-time Deemster. The offices of First Deemster, Second Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls are ancient offices. The offices of First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls were combined in 1918, and a new office of Deputy Deemster was created in 2002 but abolished in 2009. Additional part-time Deemsters (previously called ''Acting Deemsters'') are appointed from time to time to hear a particular case. The First Deemster, Second Deemster and Judge of Appeal are appointed by, and hold office during the pleasure of, the
Lord of Mann The lord of Mann ( gv, Çhiarn Vannin) is the lord proprietor and head of state of the Isle of Man. The current lord proprietor and head of state is Charles III. Before 1504 the head of state was known as King of Mann. Relationship with th ...
( acting on the advice of the UK's
Secretary of State for Justice The secretary of state for justice, also referred to as the justice secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Ministry of Justice. The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the Un ...
). Additional deemsters are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor on the recommendation of the First Deemster. As ex officio Deputy Governor, the First Deemster acts in place of the Lieutenant Governor in the latter's absence, or during a vacancy in that office. Unlike judges in the United Kingdom, Deemsters have no
security of tenure Security of tenure is a term used in political science to describe a constitutional or legal guarantee that a political office-holder cannot be removed from office except in exceptional and specified circumstances. Without security of tenure, an ...
and thus have no legal protection against dismissal by the government. The appointment and removal of Manx judges on the formal advice of United Kingdom politicians is seen as an effective alternative.


Current Deemsters

The current Deemsters are: *First Deemster ( gv, Y Chied Vriw) and Clerk of the Rolls ( gv, Cleragh ny Lioaryn), Andrew Corlett *Second Deemster (''Y Nah Vriw''),
John Needham John Turberville Needham FRS (10 September 1713 – 30 December 1781) was an English biologist and Roman Catholic priest. He was first exposed to natural philosophy while in seminary school and later published a paper which, while the subjec ...
* Deemster Graeme Cook and *
Judge of Appeal The Judge of Appeal is a part-time judge in the Isle of Man High Court who only sits in the Staff of Government Division, the appeal court. The position was created by the Judicature (Amendment) Act 1918 which also amalgamated the offices of F ...
, Jeremy Storey


List of Deemsters

Owing to a lack of early records, the list cannot record any deemsters before 1408, and is therefore not necessarily complete for the earlier years. The dates given are those for the first appearance of a name in the records, although the person may have been in office for some time previously. The list has been compiled from the ''Liber Juramentorum'' (the book recording the oaths taken by officers on appointment), the ''Isle of Man Statutes'' with additional names from the archive of David Craine.Journal of The Manx Museum, Sunday, January 01, 1961; Page: 42


First Deemsters


First Deemsters and Clerks of the Rolls

* Stewart Stevenson Moore, 1916–1921 * Charles Cheslyn Callow, 1921–1934 *
Reginald Douglas Farrant Reginald is a masculine given name in the English language. Etymology and history The meaning of Reginald is “King". The name is derived from the Latin ''Reginaldus'', which has been influenced by the Latin word ''regina'', meaning ":wikt:quee ...
, 1934–1947 * William Percy Cowley, 1947–1958 * Sydney James Kneale, 1958–1969 * George Edgar Moore, 1969–1974 *
Robert Kinley Eason The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...
, 1974–1980 * Arthur Christian Luft, 1980–1988 * John William Corrin, 1988–1998 * Thomas William Cain, 1998–2003 *
Michael Kerruish His Honour John Michael Kerruish QC (2 November 1948 – 14 July 2010) was a Manx lawyer, who was the First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls on the Isle of Man. Early life Born on 2 November 1948 to John Daniel and Olive Mona Kerruish, he was ...
, 2003–2010 *
David Doyle David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
2010–2018 * Andrew Corlett, 2018–present


Second Deemsters


Deemsters

* Andrew Corlett, 2009-2011 *
Alastair Montgomerie Alastair Aitken Montgomerie was the Criminal Deemster of the Isle of Man from 2011 until his retirement on 16 December 2019. He was appointed as a Deemster by the Lieutenant Governor. Montgomerie was educated at Fettes College Edinburgh, Manc ...
, 2011–2019 *Graeme Cook, 2020-present


Deputy Deemsters

* Andrew Williamson, 2002–2007 * Andrew Corlett, 2007–2009


In fiction

One of the main characters in
Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...
1929
drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
''
The Manxman ''The Manxman'' is a 1929 British silent romance film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Anny Ondra, Carl Brisson and Malcolm Keen. The film is based on a popular 1894 romantic novel '' The Manxman'' by Hall Caine, which had previousl ...
'' is the deemster, and his holding this position is of central importance to the film's plot. The film is based on the 1894 novel of the same name by the Manx writer
Hall Caine Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine (14 May 1853 – 31 August 1931), usually known as Hall Caine, was a British novelist, dramatist, short story writer, poet and critic of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Caine's popularity during ...
, who published another novel with a similar theme with the title ''
The Deemster ''The Deemster'' is a novel by Hall Caine published in 1887, considered to be the first 'Manx novel'. It was Caine's third novel, the second to be set in the Isle of Man and it was his first great success. The plot revolves around the reckless a ...
'' (1887). The 1953 George Bellairs crime novel "Half-Mast for the Deemster" features the murder of the Deemster.


See also

*
Tynwald Tynwald ( gv, Tinvaal), or more formally, the High Court of Tynwald ( gv, Ard-whaiyl Tinvaal) or Tynwald Court, is the legislature of the Isle of Man. It consists of two chambers, known as the branches of Tynwald: the directly elected House of ...
*
Clerk of the Rolls The Clerk of the Rolls ( gv, Cleragh ny Lioaryn) is a judge and Head of the Judiciary in the Isle of Man. This position was formerly distinct from that of the Deemsters but now the Clerk of the Rolls is held jointly with the office of First Deem ...
*
Manx Judiciary Manx (; formerly sometimes spelled Manks) is an adjective (and derived noun) describing things or people related to the Isle of Man: * Manx people **Manx surnames * Isle of Man It may also refer to: Languages * Manx language, also known as Man ...
*
Moot hill A moot hill or ''mons placiti'' (statute hill) is a hill or mound historically used as an assembly or meeting place, as a moot hall is a meeting or assembly building, also traditionally to decide local issues. In early medieval Britain, such h ...
: where there were deemsters (dempsters)


References


External links

{{wiktionary
Isle of Man Courts
Manx law Judiciary of the Isle of Man