The government is advertising for a new Attorney General.
The move follows the announcement in September this year that the previous holder of the post, Stephen Harding, had retired on the grounds of ill-health.
An Acting Attorney General, John Quinn, has been in place since 2013.
Mr Harding’s salary was £160,000.
The Chief Minister Allan Bell told Tynwald in March 2014 that it was costing £200,000 a year in personnel to cover for Mr Harding’s susension alongside that of another suspended member of the Attorney General’s chambers.
Mr Harding was formally cleared of all charges four years to the day since he represented the Treasury as government advocate at the winding-up of a Peel-based developer Street Heritage Ltd (SHL)
The Crown had alleged that Mr Harding misconducted himself at that winding-up hearing and that he lied on oath to cover his tracks at an Advocates’ Disciplinary Tribunal.
Mr Harding told police he deeply regretted ‘an error of judgement’ he made during the winding-up hearing but insisted he did not knowingly or recklessly mislead the court by failing to tell the Deemster that SHL were legally represented or that the company intended to contest the order or seek an adjournment. In December 2013, the jury in his first trial was discharged after failing to reach a unanimous verdict.
Then in February 2014 a second jury at his retrial similarly failed to reach a verdict.
The prosecution decided to offer no further evidence and Mr Harding returned to court on February 24 when the Deemster formally recorded not guilty verdicts to the two charges he faced.
The Attorney General acts as legal adviser to the Manx government, is responsible for the drafting of Bills for introduction into the legislature, and represents the Crown in the prosecution of offences on the island.
The appointment will officially be made by the Queen, based on the recommendation of a selection panel comprising the Chief Minister, the First Deemster and the President of Tynwald.
Candidates for the position must meet the following criteria:
A qualified Manx advocate or a solicitor qualified in England and Wales or Northern Ireland or a member of the Bar in England and Wales or Northern Ireland;
At least 10 years’ experience in practice at the Manx Bar or equivalent experience in a similar jurisdiction whether in independent practice or employed;
A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the law and legal practice in a common law jurisdiction;
A comprehensive knowledge of court practices and procedures in a common law jurisdiction;
A high level of professional attainment in the practice of law;
Experience of managing a diverse team at a senior level and providing leadership and direction.
An information pack and application form is available at {http://www.gov.im/categories/working-in-the-isle-of-man/public-appointments/this site}
and from the Cabinet Office, Third Floor, Government Office, Buck’s Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3PG.
The closing date for applications is Friday, December 2, at 5pm.
Mr Harding remained on full pay when he was suspended
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