A CHANGE in the way the Attorney General and the First and Second Deemsters are recruited has been hailed as a "step forward in the continuing constitutional advancement of the Isle of Man".

Until now the selection panels for these Crown posts have been made up of the Lieutenant Governor, a Deemster and the Chief Minister.

In future the panels will consist of the First Deemster (or First Deemster Designate or Judge of Appeal), the Chief Minister and the President of Tynwald.

The panels will make recommendations to the UK Secretary of State for Justice for appointment by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The move follows the announcement in July this year that the next Lieutenant Governor would be selected by an entirely local interview panel – comprising the Chief Minister, President of Tynwald and the First Deemster – instead of a panel dominated by UK representatives.

Chief Minister Tony Brown MHK said: "Increasing the involvement of Island representatives in the recruitment process for these important Crown appointments is another small but quite significant step forward in the continuing constitutional advancement of the Isle of Man."

The new process will be used for the first time in the recruitment of the next First Deemster, following the death of His Honour Michael Kerruish QC in July.

It will also be used for recruiting the next Attorney General as the current post holder John Corlett QC will retire in April next year.

Both positions will be advertised shortly.