Sheriff
A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated.
There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland, the sýslumaður, which is commonly translated to English as sheriff.
The Old English term designated a royal official, a reeve, responsible for managing a shire or county on behalf of the king.
[4][5][6] The sheriff had a series of duties that included keeping the peace and providing men at arms to support the king in times of strife.
[8] Groups of sheriffs with significant connections had more de facto power in the legal system than most English knights, despite their lack of land.
[10] Sheriffs also preside over fatal accident inquiries which are convened to examine the circumstances around sudden or suspicious deaths, including those who die in the course of employment, in custody, or in secure accommodation.
The Bailiwicks are grouped by counties as follows: Carlow and Kildare; Cavan, Leitrim, Longford and Monaghan; Clare and Limerick; Donegal; Galway; Kerry; Kilkenny and Waterford; Laois, Offaly and Tipperary; Louth, Meath and Westmeath; Mayo; Roscommon and Sligo; and Wexford and Wicklow.
[18][23] In 1993 the comptroller and auditor general expressed concern that funds collected and held in trust by sheriffs on behalf of the revenue commissioners were at risk of commingling.
First established in the 18th century based on the English high sheriffs, they were the executive arm of the judiciary, responsible for assembling jurors, bringing people to trial, supervising the gaoling (imprisonment) of prisoners and seizing and selling property.
In present times the sheriff has an apolitical, non-executive role, presides over various city-related functions and conferences and welcomes foreign guests.
The duties of a sheriff are to primarily serve all writs, execute all processes, and carry into effect all decisions and orders issued by the courts.
In most of Canada, sheriffs are almost exclusively concerned with courtroom security, post-arrest offender transfer, the serving of legal processes, and the execution of civil judgments.
[45] In 2023, the province piloted a program that saw sheriffs patrol alongside municipal police officers in Calgary and Edmonton.
[48] The Office of the High Sheriff of Newfoundland and Labrador provides protection and enforcement duties in support of the provincial, supreme, and appeal courts in the province.
[49][50] The sheriffs also assists local law enforcement agencies with additional resources to ensure public safety under the provincial Emergency Preparedness Program.
The sheriff is most often an elected county official who serves as the chief civilian law enforcement officer of their jurisdiction.
They play an important role in the execution of court orders like the attachments of immovable and movable property; evictions, demolitions etc.
The lensmann has been elected by the municipal council since the year 1293[dubious – discuss], but was nominated by the sysselmann, the appointed governor.
Sheriffs are in charge of certain legal matters that typically involve registration of some sort and executing the orders of the court.
The agreement which was ratified between 1262 and 1264 makes the post of sheriff the oldest secular position of government still operating in Iceland.
