Crown Officers

The Crown Officers of the Isle of Man are His Majesty's Attorney General and His Majesty's Solicitor General. These are Crown appointments and each holds office during His Majesty's pleasure.

HM Attorney General

The main duties of HM Attorney General in the Isle of Man are as follows:

  • To act a legal adviser to the Lieutenant Governor, the Council of Ministers and the Departments of the Isle of Man Government and such Statutory Boards as the Council of Ministers may determine in relation to the matters of law and official matters which are relevant to the Island’s domestic and external interests.
  • To consider and advise upon matters affecting the public interest generally and as to matters affecting charities where action by HM Attorney General is necessary or advisable.
  • To represent the Crown in the prosecution of offences in the Court of General Gaol Delivery and to be responsible for all criminal prosecutions in that Court and in the Staff of Government Division and to undertake prosecutions in the Summary courts on behalf of the Departments of the Isle of Man Government and such Statutory Boards as the Council of ministers may determine.
  • To represent the Crown and the Departments of the Isle of Man Government and such Statutory Boards as the Council of Ministers may determine in relation to civil matters in the High Court.
  • To be responsible for the drafting of Bills for introduction into the Legislature in accordance with instructions given by the Council of Ministers.
  • To advise on the extension to the Island of United Kingdom parliamentary legislation.
  • To attend, as a non-voting Member, sittings of the Legislative Council and Tynwald.
  • To attend meetings of the Council of Ministers and such other committees as may be required.
  • To discharge such other functions as may be conferred upon HM Attorney General by Statute.
  • To be the accounting officer and be responsible for the management of the Attorney General’s Chambers.

 

HM Solicitor General

The position of His Majesty's Solicitor General was created by the Law Officers Act 2014 which received Royal Assent on 10 December 2014 and came into operation on 22 January 2015.

The Law Officers Act 2014 created the office of HM Solicitor General as a second distinct Crown Officer for the Island following the recommendations made by Stephen Wooler CB, formerly His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service in the United Kingdom. The Report recommended that, as is the case in all other jurisdictions of the British Isles, there should be a second Crown Officer in the Island capable of supporting the whole range of duties of the Attorney General.

The Island’s first Solicitor General was appointed in March 2015.

If the office of HM Attorney General is vacant or HM Attorney General is unable to attend a sitting of Tynwald or the Legislative Council, the President of Tynwald, under the Isle of Man Constitution Amendment Act 1919, may authorise HM Solicitor General to attend the sitting of Tynwald or the Legislative Council, and HM Solicitor General has the same rights and privileges in relation to the sitting as HM Attorney General.

The main duties of HM Solicitor General in the Isle of Man are as follows:

  • To support and assist HM Attorney General:
    • in the provision of legal advice
    • in the prosecution of offences
    • in relation to civil matters in the High Court
    • with the management of the Advisory Team and Legislative Drafting Division in Chambers
    • with the drafting of Bills for introduction into the Legislature
    • with the responsibility for the management and the professional development of staff
  • To consider and advise upon matters affecting the public interest generally and as to matters affecting charities where action by HM Attorney General or HM Solicitor General at his direction and on his behalf is necessary or advisable.
  • Together with HM Attorney General to advise on the extension to the Island of United Kingdom parliamentary legislation.
  • To attend sittings of the Legislative Council and Tynwald, with the permission of the President of Tynwald, when HM Attorney General is absent.
  • To attend meetings of the Council of Ministers, with the permission of the Chief Minister, as may be required when HM Attorney General is absent.
  • To support and assist HM Attorney General in the discharge of such functions as may be conferred on HM Attorney General by statute as HM Attorney General may from time to time delegate.
  • In the event of HM Attorney General being absent or indisposed, or the office of HM Attorney General being vacant for any reason, then HM Solicitor General will assume the full responsibilities of HM Attorney General including, with the consent of the President of Tynwald, HM Attorney General’s duties in Tynwald and the Legislative Council.