IN TYNWALD The 5th day of July, 2017 To the Lord’s Lieutenant (Governor R. Gozney) and to the Members of Tynwald Court This Petition is made by G. Stephen Holmes, Manxman, of Wigan, Greater Manchester, and of Douglas, Isle of Man. Sheweth that – This year, 2017, is the 600th anniversary of the first promulgation of law in the Isle of Man; the legislative building has a fine framed poster, situated outside the Tynwald Library, of the Customary Law 1417 as promulgated that year [see page 3 of attached Appendix]. One section of that 1417 Act of Tynwald remains in force to this day; and several sections of what is now called the Customary Laws Act 1422 also remain in force to this day including “Royal Fish,” “Lieutenant may take Enquest” and “Partiality and misgovernment prohibited.” Royal Fish states that porpoises, whales or sturgeon “found” between the “heads of man” are the property of the Crown; but the Lord’s Lieutenant is not interested in taking “Enquest”; and partiality (bias) and misgovernment have become the modus operandi (the method of working) in the Courts Administration section of the High Court (within the General Registry) and in the Chambers of HM Attorney-General. Misgovernment is also the MO of the Deemsters. Section 45 (Partiality and misgovernment), is a statutory version of the bias rule of natural justice that no-one can be a judge in (his) own cause (nemo judex in causa sua). It is also the common law position – fairness in administration is essential. It is also the basis for the Deemster's oath. In 1994, in Government and Law in the Isle of Man, (by Mark Solly), advocate David C. Doyle wrote about Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to a fair hearing) and commented that it was the view of “Acting Deemster Field-Fisher” that this Article added “nothing to the common law position” – this was in 1994, twelve years before the Human Rights Act 2001 entered into force, but the Convention had persuasive authority in any event (since 1953). According to Deemster Corlett (now the Second Deemster or “D2”) [in J906.htm CHP 2008/84: 2009 MLR p.112] the General Registry is “the government department responsible for the operation of the courts in the Isle of Man. … The General Registry is an entity capable of separate legal existence, see the General Registry Act 1965.” The Chief Registrar will issue, on request, recordings of hearings in Isle of Man Courts, but on submission of an “application form” which was recently (22nd June 2017) sent to me by – Ms BK, Chancery Team Manager & Clerk to the First Deemster Isle of Man Courts of Justice, Deemsters Walk, Bucks Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3AR. Web address:- www.Courts.im Tel:- +44 (0) 1624 685568 There follows an extract from the “instructions” for completing the form, prepared by “Jock” in the General Registry. [The “Author” in document properties is obiously Mr Jock Waddington]. REQUESTS FOR A COPY OF AN AUDIO RECORDING OF ISLE OF MAN COURT PROCEEDINGS If a request is approved, the prescribed fee for copies of a CD will apply. The cost of a copy CD can be found in the current Fees Order which can be found here Where a request is approved, the applicant will be required to pay in advance the fee for the CD. The applicant will also be required to sign an undertaking in advance of the CD being released. (The -1-