Editing Sheriff (section)

==Europe==
===United Kingdom===
{{further|High sheriff|List of shrievalties|Sheriffs of the City of London}}
The [[Old English]] term designated a royal official, a reeve,  responsible for managing a [[shire]] or county on behalf of the king. The term is a contraction of {{anchor|shire reeve}} "[[shire]] [[Reeve (England)|reeve]]"  ([[Old English]] {{lang|ang|scīrgerefa}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ncsheriffs.org/about/history-of-the-sheriff |title=History of the Sheriff |website=North Carolina Sheriffs' Association |access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheriff |title=Sheriff |website=Merriam-Webster |access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=sheriff&searchmode=none|title=Online Etymology Dictionary}}</ref> 

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. Another important duty was the collection of taxes on behalf of the crown. This process involved each division of the county (known as the [[Hundred (division)|hundred]]) paying [[danegeld#Norman era|geld]] (a form of land tax). To assess how much people had to pay, a clerk and a knight were sent by the king to each [[county]]. They sat with the sheriff of the county and with a select group of local [[knights]] (two knights from each hundred). After it was determined what geld was to be paid, the knights of the hundred and the bailiff of the hundred were responsible for getting the money to the sheriff, and the sheriff was responsible for getting the money to the [[Exchequer]].<ref name=Bartlett>{{Cite book|last=Bartlett|first=Robert|title=England Under the Norman and Angevin Kings 1075 -1225|year=2000| editor= J.M.Roberts|publisher=OUP|location=London|isbn=978-0-19-925101-8|pages=165–167}}</ref>

Sheriffs loyal to certain nobles could and did sabotage the careers of [[Knight|knights]] against whom they, or a noble they were loyal to, bore a grudge.<ref name=":12">{{Cite book |last=Schama |first=Simon |author-link=Simon Schama |title=A History of Britain 1: 3000 BC-AD 1603 At the Edge of the World? |title-link=A History of Britain (TV series)#DVDs and books |publisher=[[BBC Worldwide]] |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-563-48714-2 |edition=Paperback 2003 |location=London |pages=153, 155}}</ref> Groups of sheriffs with significant connections had more ''[[de facto]]'' power in the legal system than most English knights, despite their lack of land.<ref name=":12" />

The term and duties were preserved in England even after the [[Norman Conquest]]. However, in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the role evolved over the centuries. In modern times the sheriff or [[high sheriff]] is a ceremonial county or city official. Some commercial organisations use the term to refer to [[High Court enforcement officers]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01q1j5d|access-date=8 July 2019|title=The Sheriffs Are Coming|website=[[BBC]]}}</ref> who were known as ''sheriff's officers'' prior to 2004.

====Scotland====
{{Main|Sheriff court|Sheriff principal}}
In [[Scotland]] the sheriff is a [[judge|judicial office holder]] in the [[sheriff court]]s, and they are members of the [[judiciary of Scotland]].<ref name="scottishsheriffs">{{cite web|title=Sheriffs - Judicial Office Holders - About the Judiciary - Judiciary of Scotland|url=http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/36/0/Sheriffs|website=www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk|publisher=Judicial Office for Scotland|access-date=3 April 2017|language=en|date=2017|archive-date=17 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817210101/http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/36/0/Sheriffs|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=====''Sheriffs principal''=====
The most senior sheriffs are the [[sheriff principal|sheriffs principal]], who have administrative as well as judicial authority in the six [[sheriffdom]]s, and are responsible for the effective running and administration of all the sheriff courts in their jurisdiction. Sheriffs principal also sit as appeal sheriffs in the [[Sheriff Appeal Court]]; hearing appeals against [[sentence (law)|sentencing]] and [[conviction]] from [[summary offence|summary trials]] in the sheriff courts and [[justice of the peace court]]s.<ref name="profileprincipal">{{cite web|author1=Judicial Office for Scotland|title=The Office of Sheriff Principal|url=https://www.judicialappointments.scot/sites/default/files/files/information_pages/The%20Office%20of%20Sheriff%20Principal.doc|website=www.judicialappointments.scot|publisher=Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland|access-date=4 April 2017|date=March 2016|archive-date=30 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230011832/https://www.judicialappointments.scot/sites/default/files/files/information_pages/The%20Office%20of%20Sheriff%20Principal.doc|url-status=dead}}</ref> The additional duties of a sheriff principal include being [[Northern Lighthouse Board|Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouse Board]] (which is the [[general lighthouse authority]] for Scotland), and chairing local criminal justice boards which bring together local representatives of [[Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service|procurator fiscal]], [[Police Scotland]] and [[Community Justice Scotland]], and [[Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service]].<ref name="NLB">{{cite web|title=Schedule 8 of Merchant Shipping Act 1995|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/21/schedule/8|website=www.legislation.gov.uk|publisher=The National Archives|access-date=2 April 2017|language=en|date=19 July 1995}}</ref><ref name="localboards">{{cite web|title=Local Criminal Justice Boards|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/archive/law-order/Local|website=www.gov.scot|publisher=Scottish Government|access-date=2 April 2017|language=en|date=3 April 2006|archive-date=25 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125025441/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/archive/law-order/Local|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=====''Sheriffs''=====
Sheriffs deal with the majority of civil and criminal court cases in Scotland, with the power to preside in [[solemn proceedings]] with a [[Trial by jury in Scotland|jury of 15]] for [[indictable offence]]s and sitting alone in summary proceedings for [[summary offence]]s. A sheriff must be [[legal education|legally qualified]], and have been qualified as an [[Faculty of Advocates|advocate]] or [[Law Society of Scotland|solicitor]] for at least 10 years. The maximum sentencing power of sheriff in summary proceedings is 12 months [[imprisonment]], or a [[fine (penalty)|fine]] of up to £10,000. In solemn proceedings the maximum sentence is 5 years imprisonment, or an unlimited fine.<ref name="scottishsheriffs" />

Sheriffs also preside over [[fatal accident inquiry|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 [[Detention (imprisonment)|custody]], or in secure accommodation.<ref name=FAI1976>{{cite web| url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1976/14 | title=Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act 1976 | publisher=Legislation.gov.uk | date=13 April 1976 | access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref><ref name="FAI">{{cite web|author1=Judicial Office for Scotland|title=The Office of Sheriff|url=https://www.judicialappointments.scot/sites/default/files/files/information_pages/The%20Office%20of%20Sheriff.doc|website=Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland|access-date=4 April 2017|page=9|language=en|format=DOC|quote=34) The sheriff is required to make certain findings and is empowered to make recommendations to avoid a recurrence of the incident.|archive-date=30 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230071915/https://www.judicialappointments.scot/sites/default/files/files/information_pages/The%20Office%20of%20Sheriff.doc|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=====''Summary sheriffs''=====
[[Summary sheriff]]s hear [[civil case]]s brought under Simple Procedure and criminal cases brought under summary proceedings. Their sentencing powers are identical to a sheriff sitting in summary proceedings.<ref name="summarysheriffs">{{cite web|title=Summary Sheriffs - Judicial Office Holders - About the Judiciary - |website=Judiciary of Scotland|url=http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/39/0/Summary-Sheriffs|publisher=Judicial Office for Scotland|access-date=3 April 2017|language=en|date=2017|archive-date=3 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403111308/http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/39/0/Summary-Sheriffs|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Republic of Ireland===
In the Republic of Ireland, a sheriff ({{Langx|ga|sirriam}}<ref>{{cite web |author=Foras na Gaeilge |title=sheriff |url=https://www.tearma.ie/q/sheriff/en/ |access-date=11 July 2019 |website=téarma.ie |publisher=Dublin City University}}</ref>) is appointed under section 12(3) of the Court Officers Act 1945, to perform some of the functions that would otherwise be performed by the [[county registrar]].<ref name="hyland20122">{{cite web |last1=Hyland |first1=Paul |date=5 August 2012 |title=Explainer: Who and what are Ireland's sheriffs? |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/explainer-irelands-sheriffs-541570-Aug2012/ |access-date=11 July 2019 |website=TheJournal.ie |language=en}}</ref><ref name="irishstatutebook19452">[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1945/act/25/section/12/enacted/en/html#sec12 Court Officers Act 1945, s.12]</ref><ref name="courtsservice2">{{cite web |title=Role of County Registrar |url=http://www.courts.ie/offices.nsf/0/8980B57008F0A15E802573D0006849DF?OpenDocument |access-date=11 July 2019 |publisher=Courts Service of Ireland}}</ref> In practice, two types of sheriff have been appointed:<ref name="hyland20122" />

Four sheriffs (one each for [[Sheriff of Dublin City|Dublin city]], [[Sheriff of County Dublin|County Dublin]], [[Cork city]], and [[County Cork]]) are full-time public officials whose responsibilities are:<ref name="hyland20122" /><ref name="courtsservice2" /><ref name="sheehan20132">{{cite news |last1=Sheehan |first1=Maeve |date=22 December 2013 |title=Good, bad and ugly side of being the city's sheriff |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/good-bad-and-ugly-side-of-being-the-citys-sheriff-29859088.html |access-date=11 July 2019 |work=Sunday Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref name="merrionstreet20182">{{cite press release |title=Government makes appointments to Sheriff posts |date=30 November 2018 |url=https://merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/Releases/Government_makes_appointments_to_Sheriff_posts.html |language=en |last1=Nick |first1=Callan |access-date=11 July 2019 |website=merrionstreet.ie}}</ref>

* enforcing [[Court order|court orders]] of the [[Circuit Court (Ireland)|Circuit Court]], such as [[eviction]] or [[debt collection]]
* acting as [[returning officer]] in [[Elections in the Republic of Ireland|public elections]]
* executing tax certificates on behalf of the [[Revenue Commissioners]]

{{anchor|Revenue sheriff}}Fourteen sheriffs, colloquially called "Revenue sheriffs", have only the third of the preceding functions, the others being done by the county registrar's office.<ref name="hyland20122" /><ref name="dail19882">{{cite web |date=17 February 1988 |title=Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Revenue Sheriffs. |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1988-02-17/5/ |access-date=11 July 2019 |website=Dáil Éireann (25th Dáil) debates |publisher=Oireachtas |language=en-ie}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2018-11-30 |title=Government makes appointments to Sheriff posts |url=https://merrionstreet.ie/en/news-room/releases/government_makes_appointments_to_sheriff_posts.html |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=MerrionStreet.ie |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2024 |title=Guidelines for Sheriff Enforcement |url=https://www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/collection/enforcement/sheriff-enforcement.pdf |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Revenue Commissioners}}</ref> Revenue sheriffs are [[Solicitor#Republic of Ireland|solicitors]] in private practice. Each covers a [[Bailiwick]], which consist of one or more of [[Local government in the Republic of Ireland|the state's remaining counties]]. The Bailiwicks are grouped by counties as follows: [[County Carlow|Carlow]] and [[County Kildare|Kildare]]; [[County Cavan|Cavan]], [[County Leitrim|Leitrim]], [[County Longford|Longford]] and [[County Monaghan|Monaghan]]; [[County Clare|Clare]] and [[County Limerick|Limerick]]; [[County Donegal|Donegal]]; [[County Galway|Galway]]; [[County Kerry|Kerry]]; [[County Kilkenny|Kilkenny]] and [[County Waterford|Waterford]]; [[County Laois|Laois]], [[County Offaly|Offaly]] and [[County Tipperary|Tipperary]]; [[County Louth|Louth]], [[County Meath|Meath]] and [[County Westmeath|Westmeath]]; [[County Mayo|Mayo]]; [[County Roscommon|Roscommon]] and [[County Sligo|Sligo]]; and [[County Wexford|Wexford]] and [[County Wicklow|Wicklow]].<ref name="dail19882" />

Prior to the 1922 creation of the [[Irish Free State]], Irish law regarding sheriffs mirrored that of England,<ref name="hyland20122" /> latterly with each [[administrative county]] and [[county borough]] having a ceremonial [[High Sheriff#Ireland|high sheriff]] and functional [[Under-sheriff|under-sheriffs]] responsible for enforcing court orders of the [[County court#Ireland|county court]] or [[quarter sessions]].<ref name="hyland20122" /> The [[Courts of Justice Act 1924]] replaced these courts with a new circuit court.<ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1924/act/10/enacted/en/print.html Courts of Justice Act 1924, ss. 37, 51]</ref> The Court Officers Act 1926 formally abolished high sheriffs and phased out under-sheriffs by providing that, as each retired, his functions would be transferred to the county registrar,  established by the 1926 act as an officer of the circuit court.<ref name="hyland20122" /><ref>[http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1926/act/27/enacted/en/print Court Officers Act 1926 ss.35, 38, 52, 54]</ref> When the Dublin city under-sheriff retired in 1945, the city registrar was too overworked with other responsibilities to take over his duties, so the Court Officers Act 1945 was passed to allow a new office of sheriff to take over some or all of the under-sheriff's functions.<ref name="hyland20122" /><ref name="irishstatutebook19452" /> The four Dublin and Cork sheriffs were soon appointed, with much of the under-sheriff's responsibilities.<ref name="hyland20122" /> Revenue sheriffs were introduced for the rest of the state in the late 1980s as part of a crackdown on [[tax evasion]].<ref name="hyland20122" /><ref name="dail19882" />  In 1993 the [[Comptroller and Auditor General (Ireland)|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]].<ref>{{cite web |date=15 June 1993 |title=Written Answers. - Collection of Moneys by Sheriffs |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/ga/debates/debate/dail/1993-06-15/51/ |access-date=19 July 2019 |website=Dáil Éireann (27th Dáil) proceedings |publisher=Oireachtas |language=Irish}}</ref> This was reformed in 1998 by prohibiting sheriffs from retaining the interest earned on such monies and, to compensate, increasing their [[Retainer agreement|retainer]].<ref name="dail19992">{{cite web |last1=O'Donoghue |first1=John |date=24 June 1999 |title=Courts (Supplemental Provisions) (Amendment) Bill, 1999: Second Stage |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1999-06-24/11/#para_308 |access-date=19 July 2019 |website=Dáil Éireann (28th Dáil) debates |publisher=Oireachtas |language=en-ie}}; {{cite web |title=S.I. No. 314/1998 - Sheriffs' Fees and Expenses Order, 1998 |url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1998/si/314/made/en/print |access-date=19 July 2019 |website=electronic Irish Statute Book (eISB) |language=en}}</ref> Through to the 1990s the sheriff's post was in the gift of the [[Minister for Justice (Ireland)|minister for justice]], but by the 2010s it was advertised by the [[Public Appointments Service]].<ref name="dail19992" /><ref name="sheehan20132" /><ref name="merrionstreet20182" /> A 1988 [[Law Reform Commission (Ireland)|Law Reform Commission]] report made recommendations for updating the 1926 law on sheriffs;<ref>{{cite web |date=October 1988 |title=Debt collection: (1) the law relating to sheriffs |url=https://publications.lawreform.ie/Portal/External/en-GB/RecordView/Index/30504 |publisher=[[Law Reform Commission (Ireland)|Law Reform Commission]] |id=LRC 27-1988}}</ref> {{As of|2023|lc=y}} few of these had been implemented, and the government began a review of the role of sheriffs in state work.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 2023 |title=Examining the Role of Sheriffs in Respect of State Work |url=https://www.lawlibrary.ie/reports/examining-the-role-of-sheriffs-in-respect-to-state-work |access-date=15 January 2024 |publisher=[[Bar of Ireland]] |page=14 |format=PDF}}</ref>

Under section 12(5) of the Court Officers Act 1945, an appointee for sheriff must be either:

* A barrister who has practiced for no less than five years; or
* A solicitor who has practiced for not less than five years; or
* Have acted for not less than five years as managing clerk or principal assistant to an under-sheriff or sheriff.<ref name=":0" />