Public access to manx case law

Summary

The requester inquired about public access to Isle of Man case law, specifically regarding responsibility, restrictions compared to legal professionals, and digitalization plans. The General Registry confirmed that the public has equal access to case law as legal professionals, with judgments available online since circa 2010 and earlier reports in the Tynwald Library.

Key Facts

• The Judiciary determines which judgments are published on judgments.im, while Lexis Nexis selects cases for the Manx Law Reports.
• Members of the public have the same access to Manx case law as members of the legal profession.
• Judgments.im contains all judgments with legal precedents given since approximately 2010.
• Earlier judgments are published in the Manx Law Reports and are available to the public in the Tynwald Library.
• Certain judgments may be restricted or anonymized, particularly those containing the names of children.

Data Disclosed

• 2025-07-30
• 2025-08-21
• 4839285
• 4673286
• circa 2010
• 3
• 1

Original Request

Hi Further to FOI 4673286 to Dept of Home Affairs, I was advised that I need to redirect my query to the General Registry. 1. Which department or body holds responsibility for the publication, management or control of public access to manx case law and legal precedent? 2. What legal or policy-based reason prevents members of the public from accessing manx case law decisions in the same way as legal professional (ex the isle of man law society)? 3. A select few cases are accessible online. Is there any ongoing plan, discussion or consultation regarding public access to case law or digitalisation of all of the Isle of Man's legal rulings? 4. How can a member of the public access precedent case law relevant to their own civil case if they are not represented by a legal professional? 5. What legal authority allows case law to be restricted to certain parties in a public court system? Thanks

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

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: 4839285 21 August 2025

Dear ####

We write further to your request, received 30 July 2025, which states:

"Hi

Further to FOI 4673286 to Dept of Home Affairs, I was advised that I need to redirect my query to the General Registry.

1. Which department or body holds responsibility for the publication, management or control of public access to manx case law and legal precedent?

Answer:
The Judiciary determine what judgments are placed on judgments.im. Lexis Nexis, the editors of the Manx Law Reports, select the cases for inclusion within the same.

1. What legal or policy-based reason prevents members of the public from accessing manx case law decisions in the same way as legal professional (ex the isle of man law society)?

Answer:
Members of the public have the same access to Manx case law as members of the legal profession.

1. A select few cases are accessible online. Is there any ongoing plan, discussion or consultation regarding public access to case law or digitalisation of all of the Isle of Man's legal rulings?

Answer:
Generally, there has been an increase in the number of judgments placed on judgments.im over recent years as can be seen from the General Registry’s Annual Report. There is a fundamental difference between Judgments and Orders. Every case requires an Order to encapsulate the determination of the Court. Not all determinations or ‘legal rulings’ require a reasoned judgment.

1. How can a member of the public access precedent case law relevant to their own civil case if they are not represented by a legal professional?

Answer: Judgments.im contains all judgments containing legal precedents given since circa 2010. Earlier judgments are published in the Manx Law Reports which are available to the public in the Tynwald Library.

1. What legal authority allows case law to be restricted to certain parties in a public court system?

Answer: Certain judgments, or particular content within certain judgments, can be restricted in a variety of circumstances. For example, the Court does no ordinarily release Judgments which contain the names of children without, if nothing else, anonymising those names. One should seek independent legal advice on the authority to anonymise Judgments.

Thanks"

Our response to you is inserted below each question above in bold.

Please quote the reference number 4839285 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely

ator ordin - FOI Co