iniquitous legal opinions issue

Summary

The requester asked for information regarding tribunal arrangements to review alleged unlawful legal opinions from the Attorney General's Chambers. The General Registry refused the request, stating they do not hold the information and lack access to privileged legal advice.

Key Facts

• The General Registry confirmed no 'policy and procedure' exists for the requested review of legal opinions.
• The authority stated it does not have access to legal opinions from His Majesty's Attorney General's Chambers.
• Access to such opinions is restricted because they are likely subject to legal professional privilege.
• The General Registry is not responsible for reviewing or commenting on legal advice given to any person.
• The request was refused under section 11(3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015.

Data Disclosed

• 3817669
• 2024-04-23
• 2024-06-12
• section 11(3)(a)
• Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information not held)
• Legal professional privilege

Original Request

Please supply information on tribunal or court arrangements or any consideration of such arrangements (for example in the illegal quarterly face to face joint meetings between the government and the judiciary) to rightly obtain and to review any legal opinions from HM Attorney General Chambers identified with irrefutable evidence as unlawful iniquitous legal opinions and to share conclusions with parties to a case given an improper obsession with legal privilege that is automatically lost by any such iniquitous legal opinion in a malicious defence and given a falsely implied statement by an employee that the legal principle does not apply in the Isle of Man.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Mr ####

General Registry Oik- Recortyssee Chief Registrar
Stuart Quayle

Isle of Man Courts of Justice Deemsters Walk, Bucks Road Douglas, Isle of Man IM1 3AR

Telephone:
(01624) 685979 Email: DPO- GenReg@gov.im

Our ref: 3817669 12 June 2024

Dear M ####

We write further to your request received 23 April 2024, which states:

"Please supply information on tribunal or court arrangements or any consideration of such arrangements (for example in the illegal quarterly face to face joint meetings between the government and the judiciary) to rightly obtain and to review any legal opinions from HM Attorney General Chambers identified with irrefutable evidence as unlawful iniquitous legal opinions and to share conclusions with parties to a case given an improper obsession with legal privilege that is automatically lost by any such iniquitous legal opinion in a malicious defence and given a falsely implied statement by an employee that the legal principle does not apply in the Isle of Man."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance a practical refusal reason applies under section 11(3)(a) of the Act as we do not hold the information requested, explained further below.

We can confirm that no such ‘policy and procedure’ exists. The General Registry does not have access to, nor would it be permitted to access, legal opinions from His Majesty’s Attorney General’s Chambers. This is because any legal advice given is likely to be the subject of legal professional privilege. Notwithstanding the same, it is not the role of the General Registry to review or comment on the legal advice given to any person.

Please quote the reference number 3817669 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

FOI Co-ordinator