Recent Celtic League criticisms of an inept decision by one of the Isle of Man's Deemsters (High Court Judges) provide an opportune focus on an area of Manx public life that has received too little scrutiny in recent years.
The Isle of Man's so called 'unique judicial system' is epitomised by a High Court system that seems locked in the Victorian era.
Although great play has been made recently on the Island about how systems of public administration are to become more open and 'human rights compliant', an overhaul of the justice system is necessary but is not apparently contemplated.
The appointment of Deemsters is of itself a bit of a mystery to the Manx public the generally held view on the Island is that most of those who rise to the 'heady heights' of the senior judiciary are more likely to be safe 'place-men' for the establishment rather than there to dispense justice dispassionately. Indeed, this perception is not helped by the fact that many of those appointed to 'rule' the High Court have been either former Attorney Generals or have an 'uncontroversial' legal background.
The Isle of Man increasingly likes to see itself as growing in stature on the world stage. Government Ministers make a great play of its up to date regulatory bodies covering a range of areas of commerce, from aerospace and shipping to banking and insurance.
However its justice system seems more akin to the world of Manx Victorian writers like T E Brown and Hall Caine and given the incestuous nature of the political, judicial and legal establishment nothing seems likelyto change.
The Isle of Man's Deemsters seem destined to ruminate indefinitely in a Victorian time-warp!
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
17/02/07
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