Eleven new part-time judges have been sworn in at Douglas courthouse in what has been described as an unprecedented milestone for the Manx judicial system.
The new Acting Deemsters and Deputy High Bailiffs, all local advocates, were appointed following a successful recruitment exercise aimed at strengthening the island's judiciary.
Their swearing-in ceremony took place in courtroom three, watched by friends and family from the public gallery.
Chief Minister Chris Thomas and Home Affairs Minister Jane Poole-Wilson also attended.
The newly appointed judges are Keira Gore, Steven Coren, Claire Corkish, James Robinson, Mark Emery, Vicki Unsworth, Peter Clucas, Kathryn Clough, Kathryn Johnson, Rob Long and Richard Halsall.
First Deemster Andrew Corlett, sitting alongside Judge of Appeal Anthony Cross KC, High Bailiff James Brooks, Second Deemster John Needham and Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer, described the occasion as an ‘unprecedented and important milestone in the history of the Manx judicial system’.
He said: ‘The Isle of Man ought now to be able to produce its own high quality judges rather than rely on imported talent. This ceremony marks an important step in attaining this goal.’
‘The economy of the Isle of Man and the well-being of its citizens relies to an extent which is not often appreciated by a well-resourced, hard-working, high-quality and incorruptible judiciary,’ he said.
Deemster Corlett warned that the island's small number of full-time resident judges had failed to keep pace with the growing volume and complexity of court cases.
This had led to increasing reliance on fee-paid Acting Deemsters and Deputy High Bailiffs recruited from outside the island.
Restaurant owner fined £15,000 and banned from Isle of Man over immigration offences
‘Fishing expedition’: Judge orders police to return property seized from Manx home-(3).jpeg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
Manx Care pauses recruitment and tightens staffing controls amid £19.2m overspend 
‘Dickensian winter’ warning as politician calls for help with heating costs
Although around 30 such judges are available, many are approaching retirement, while some are reluctant to hear cases outside their specialist areas.
Others, he said, had been discouraged from travelling to the island by ‘last-minute flight cancellations and a seemingly dysfunctional airport’.
The demands placed on visiting judges have also changed, with courts increasingly requiring ongoing management of complex cases rather than judges simply presiding over individual lengthy trials.
‘I believe the Isle of Man courts and tribunals provide a good service,’ Deemster Corlett said.
‘It is my opinion, however, that in order to maintain the quality of that service, and indeed to improve it, the time has come for the structure and size of our judiciary to be examined in a fundamental way, probably by an independent external review.’
He said the success of the recruitment exercise had been ‘far beyond’ his expectations.
Deemster Corlett also highlighted that five of the 11 newly appointed part-time judges are women.
The recruits have completed a two-day induction course in judicial skills, led by His Honour David Aubrey KC and Judge Rachel Karp, assisted by Sir Ross Cranston.
Following further training, they will be available to hear a wide range of criminal, family and civil cases.
