Manx Law Reports

The Manx Law Reports provide an unbroken sequence of case law from 1522 to the present day. This series of books contain judicial opinions from a selection of case law decided by the Isle of Man Courts together with headnotes and indices to help users. The current set consists of 28 volumes from 1522 to 2018 together with an Index volume from 1522 to 2016.

A Background to the Manx Law Reports

In 1983 the Isle of Man hosted the first meeting of Law Officers of Small Commonwealth Jurisdictions. It was organised by Her Majesty’s Attorney General, Thomas William Cain, who later became Second Deemster then First Deemster and Clerk of the Rolls. 

This meeting inspired him to raise the international standing of the Isle of Man by means of The Manx Law Reports.

In 1985 Law Reports International published the first volume and others have followed almost yearly. At the same time as covering current decisions of the Manx courts, the editors researched and reported cases as far back in history as was possible.

Law Reports International's contract for publishing The Manx Law Reports ended with the 2005-06 volume and the 1522-2006 Index.

For information about the publication of the Manx Law Reports, please contact the relevant publishers:

Included in the earliest volume are

  • historic and constitutional cases;
  • Privy Council cases; and
  • English cases concerning the Isle of Man.

More recent volumes contain in-depth coverage of:

Isle of Man courts:
  • Decisions of the High Court of Justice;
  • Decisions on points of law in Court of General Gaol Delivery;
  • Decisions of Staff of Government (Appeals) Division;
  • Decisions of lower courts (e.g. Summary Court).
Other courts:

To Purchase Manx Law Reports

For price details and order information please see our Order Form. For further information, contact the Courts' library on +44 (0)1624 687593.

Page last updated on 28 March 2024