bailiff

Bailiff is a legal officer who has authority to act a custodian . Some common usages of the term “bailiff” in a legal sense include:

  • Bailiff is someone entrusted with the care and protection, guardianship , or jurisdiction of a person , land , or personal property pending further court action.
  • A bailiff is also a court official, usually a peace officer or deputy sheriff , who keeps order in the courtroom and handles errands for the judge and clerk .
    • In this role, the bailiff acts as an intermediary between the judge and attorneys .
    • The main job of a bailiff is court security.
    • If someone does not behave in a courtroom, the bailiff can make that person leave the courtroom.

[Last reviewed in June of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team ]

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