New DHB & AG appointments

New DHB: Alexander Armstrong

The Lieutenant Governor has appointed Alexander Armstrong to be a Deputy High Bailiff (DHB).

It follows the retirement of Chris Arrowsmith, after 7 years in the role.

Alexander Armstrong has served as a Legal Officer in the General Registry since 2022 and as a part-time Judicial Officer and Deputy Coroner of Inquests since 2024.

A recent decision of his (as Judicial Officer) concerned whether a judge could be witness summonsed (Coren Law, Update on Manx High Court’s powers to compel evidence (23.09.26)).

Alexander Armstrong will be sworn into office in January 2027 and joins DHB Rachael Braidwood, who was appointed in 2023.

Role of the DHB

In Hafner v HMAG & others (2DS 2007/17) (31.08.07), Deemster Doyle stated:

“Section 1(1) of the Summary Jurisdiction Act 1989 provides that the Governor shall by warrant under his hand appoint a fit and proper person to be High Bailiff. Section 1(2) of the Summary Jurisdiction Act 1989 provides that the Governor may by warrant under his hand appoint a fit and proper person to be Deputy High Bailiff, either generally or for the purpose of a particular cause or matter or for any specified period; and a Deputy High Bailiff shall have the like powers and exercise the like jurisdiction as the High Bailiff. The High Bailiff and the Deputy High Bailiff have concurrent jurisdiction with justices sitting as courts of summary jurisdiction and have other jurisdiction as specified by statute. Section 3 of the Interpretation Act 1976 provides that High Bailiff includes a deputy High Bailiff”.

New AG: Oliver Helfrich

Meanwhile, Oliver Helfrich was recently announced as the Island’s next Attorney General (AG).

He takes over from Walter Wannenburgh KC, who is standing down after a total of 11 years, first as the Island’s first SG (Solicitor General), then as Acting AG and AG.

Oliver Helfrich, who will be leaving private practice, will be the Island’s 21st AG since Revestment in 1765.

Notable predecessors include Sir James Gell (1868-1898), Jack Corrin (1974-80), William Cain QC (1980-1993) and Mike Kerruish QC (1993-1998), each of whom was later a Deemster.

Oliver Helfrich will also be sworn into office in January 2027.

Role of the AG

In his new role, Oliver Helfrich will advise the Lieutenant Governor, Council of Ministers, Government departments and statutory boards, and will also sit in the Legislative Council.

The duties of the AG were summarised by the late John Quinn (see Wooler, below, p. 71 – with a full list of no fewer than 28 functions listed at pp. 71-72):

“The [AG] is the [principal] legal advisor to the Crown who, along with fellow Crown Officers has a responsibility to protect the public interest and to ensure that the rule of law is upheld on the Island. The [AG] is also the principal legal advisor to Tynwald and to the Executive and is the Accountable Officer in respect of his/her Chambers”.

In June 2026, the Standing Orders Committee of Tynwald produced a report, Attendance of the Attorney General, covering parliamentary attendance aspects of the AG’s role.

For earlier reports on the role of the AG, see:

• Constitutional and Legal Affairs and Justice Committee: Third Report for the Session 2020-21: Role of the Attorney General (April 2021); and
• Stephen Wooler CB, Review of the Role of HM Attorney General (Isle of Man) (28 March 2023).

The AG also publishes an Annual Operating Report (see 2024/25 Report).

Disclaimer: professional advice should be sought before applying any information in a given case.

See other Coren Law Legal Updates on civil procedure and constitutional + administrative law.

See also Coren Law’s Isle of Man civil procedure portal: Click On | Coren Law.