High Sheriff
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The High Sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement position in Anglosphere countries. The High Sheriff of an English or Welsh county is an unpaid, partly ceremonial post appointed by The Crown through a Warrant from the Privy Council. In the United States of America, the High Sheriff is the chief sheriff of a U.S. state who outranks and commands all other sheriffs.
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[edit] England, Wales and Northern Ireland
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the High Sheriff is theoretically the Sovereign's judicial representative in the county, while the Lord Lieutenant is the Sovereign's personal representative. (The post should not be confused with that of Sheriff in Scotland, who is a judge sitting in a Sheriff Court.) Their jurisdictions, the "Shrieval Counties", are no longer co-terminous with administrative areas, representing a mix between the traditional counties and more recent local authority areas. [1]
Most of the High Sheriff's work is delegated, for example the local police protect Judges and Courts, so that in effect the post of High Sheriff is essentially a ceremonial post.
[edit] Actual responsibilities
High Sheriffs have few genuine responsibilities:
- High Sheriffs attend Royal visits to the county. They are also responsible for the proclamation of the accession of a new sovereign.
- High Sheriffs usually act as the Returning Officer for Parliamentary elections in county constituencies and see to the annual appointment of an undersheriff.
[edit] Theoretical responsibilities
Theoretical responsibilities include the well-being and protection of High Court Judges, and attending them in Court; and the maintenance of the loyalty of subjects to the Crown.
Centuries ago, the High Sheriff was responsible for law enforcement within the county. Nowadays, the position is frequently awarded to people with an association with law enforcement (police, lawyers, magistrates, judges). See List of Shrievalties.
[edit] United States
U.S. States had a similar position; however, only the states of Hawaii, New Hampshire and Rhode Island still use it. The New York City Sheriff functions as a de facto high sheriff, as his jurisdiction covers New York City, which contains the five New York Counties - each of which contains an Undersheriff.
