News Publication Date: 27 May 2015
On Monday 18 May 2015 His Honour the Deemster Doyle, First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls, was formally sworn in as a Judge of Appeal in Jersey. It is anticipated that the First Deemster will sit for up to a week a year in the Court of Appeal in Jersey.
The ceremony was undertaken at the Royal Court in Jersey and attended by other judges, jurats and members of the local legal profession.
The warrant of appointment from Her Majesty the Queen was read whereby Her Majesty granted 'unto our Trusty and Well-beloved David Charles Doyle, Esquire, the Office and Place of Judge of Appeal of Our Island of Jersey under the Court of Appeal (Jersey) Law 1961: to have, hold, exercise and enjoy the said Office unto him the said David Charles Doyle, during good behaviour.'
The Oath of a Judge of the Court of Appeal was administered to the First Deemster in the French language. The First Deemster promised that while exercising the office of a Judge of Appeal of the Bailiwick of Jersey he would 'maintain, uphold and defend all the laws, liberties, usages and ancient customs of the said Bailiwick … and … administer justice to all manner of persons without favour or partiality.'
William Bailhache, the Bailiff (Chief Justice) of Jersey, gave a warm welcome to Deemster Doyle as a judge of the Jersey Court of Appeal stating:
'This is the first occasion on which a Deemster from the Isle of Man has been appointed to this Court and it is very appropriate indeed that this should take place, and that it should be you as the inaugural appointee from our most northerly sister island. I say that because I am very aware that of all the judges in the Crown Dependencies, you above all, seem to be able to monitor the decisions of the courts given in other jurisdictions …
'As you are aware, the work of the Court of Appeal covers many different areas of law because the Royal Court has a general jurisdiction …
You are therefore particularly well qualified to sit in our Court of Appeal by the experience which you have had.
'There is a further reason why it is in our view so desirable that the Bailiff of Guernsey and the Deemster of the Isle of Man should be available to sit in the Court of Appeal. As Islanders, we are aware of the particular problems which small islands face. The development of the law must always take place sensitively having regard to the community which the law serves, and the small jurisdiction and community perspective which you will bring to the work of the Court of Appeal is an important element in the overall deliberations of that Court …
'I have no doubt that you will continue the tradition of the Court of Appeal in bringing the forensic skills of its members to understanding and developing our local law for the needs of our community in the 21st century and I am very pleased to welcome you to this Court.'
The first appeal Deemster Doyle dealt with, sitting with Sir Hugh Bennett and George Bompas QC, was in respect of the Otto Poon Trust. Legal argument was considered on 19 May 2015 and judgment was delivered on 20 May 2015. The judgment can be accessed at www.judgments.im in the 'Other Judgments' section and at www.jerseylaw.je.