A Deemster ( gv, briw) is a judge 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 Europ ...

. 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 deemsters also promulgate the Laws on Tynwald Day by reading out brief summaries of them in English and

Manx 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 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 D ...

(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 ...

( 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 Andrew Thomas Kaneen Corlett is the current First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls of the Isle of Man who served as Second Deemster from 2011 to 2018,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,

Jeremy Storey Jeremy may refer to: * Jeremy (given name), a given name * Jérémy, a French given name * ''Jeremy'' (film), a 1973 film * "Jeremy" (song), a song by Pearl Jam * Jeremy (snail), a left-coiled garden snail that died in 2017 * ''Jeremy'', a 1919 ...

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 Stewart Stevenson Moore QC (1 January 1860 – 28 March 1951)''Ramsey Courier.'' Friday, 6 April 1951; Section: Front page, Page: 1 was a Manx lawyer, who was the First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls on the Isle of Man. Biography Stewart Stev ...

, 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 William is a masculine given name of Norman French origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conqu ...

, 1947–1958 *

Sydney James Kneale Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountai ...

, 1958–1969 *

George Edgar Moore George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...

, 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, ho ...

, 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 Andrew Thomas Kaneen Corlett is the current First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls of the Isle of Man who served as Second Deemster from 2011 to 2018,Second Deemster -->

Deemsters

Andrew Corlett Andrew Thomas Kaneen Corlett is the current First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls of the Isle of Man who served as Second Deemster from 2011 to 2018,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 Andrew Thomas Kaneen Corlett is the current First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls of the Isle of Man who served as Second Deemster from 2011 to 2018,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 ...

'' 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 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.

References

External links

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