A Deemster () is a judge in the Isle of Man. The High Court of Justice of the Isle of Man 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 deemsters also promulgate the Laws on Tynwald Day by reading out brief summaries of them in English and Manx.
In the past, the First and Second Deemsters had ex officio seats in the Legislative Council of the Isle of Man. The Second Deemster was removed from the council in 1965Isle of Man Constitution (Amendment) Act 1965 and the First Deemster in 1975.Isle of Man Constitution (Amendment) Act 1975
There are currently (2017) three full-time Deemsters. These are the First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls (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,Judicature (Amendment) Act 1918; see now High Court Act 1991 s.3A(6). and a new office of Deputy Deemster was created in 2002Civil Jurisdiction Act 2001 s.7 but abolished in 2009.Administration of Justice Act 2008 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 MannHigh Court Act 1991 s.3A (acting on the advice of the UK's Secretary of State for Justice). Additional deemsters are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor on the recommendation of the First Deemster.High Court Act 1991 s.3B 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 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 () and Clerk of the Rolls (), Andrew Corlett Second Deemster (Y Nah Vriw), John Needham Deemster Graeme Cook and Judge of Appeal, Jeremy Storey
There is now officially a "Third Deemster", replacing the previous "Deemster".
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, 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, 1988–1998 Thomas William Cain, 1998–2003 Michael Kerruish, 2003–2010 David Doyle 2010–2018 Andrew Corlett, 2018–present
Second Deemsters
Deemsters Andrew Corlett, 2009–2011 Alastair Montgomerie, 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 1929 drama film The Manxman 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, who published another novel with a similar theme with the title The Deemster (1887).
The 1953 George Bellairs crime novel "Half-Mast for the Deemster" features the murder of the Deemster.
See also Tynwald Clerk of the Rolls Manx Judiciary Moot hill: where there were deemsters (dempsters)
References
External links
Isle of Man Courts