In simple words, a bailiff is a manager or a person who is empowered with some legal responsibilities such as conducting arrests, looking after the prisoners, and collecting statements. Unfortunately many people aren't aware of the duties of a bailiff and continue to mistake him for a police officer. In this article we will guide you through a list of 5 duties of a bailiff you probably didn't know. Every local and state court requires the services of a bailiff, for they perform many important tasks. Continue reading more to know about their work. The list of their duties is as follows:
1. Announce a judge's entrance in the court
Though, a judge is the most important person for raising voice in the court, but a bailiff has an equally important role to play. There is certain behavior that is expected by everyone in the court as soon as the judge enters. When a bailiff announces the entry of the judge in the court, he means that everyone should adhere to a common behavior before the beginning of courtroom session. Bailiffs are also directed to call out the witnesses in front of the court.
2. Collect evidence from legal parties
Evidence is the most important aspect of a case that needs to be handled with care and by the right person. Evidence that is handled during trial can only be collected by the bailiff and no one else. Even before the judge takes the evidence in his hand, the bailiff is handled with all important stuff for security reasons. Furthermore, bailiffs also act as messengers by passing the messages from the jurors to the judge and from the families to other parties in the court.
3. Keep up with important paperwork
A courtroom session is inclusive of archaic paperwork that needs to be handled with care and safety. Important files need to be passed on from the jurors to the judges, and evidence needs to be kept in a safe place after the session ends. Therefore it is crucial for the bailiff to organize all tasks and be in control of the entire situation. Bailiffs are also given the authority to carry arrests if the person convicted in a case turns hostile. In some cases, bailiffs also carry out orders to seize property and confiscate stuff from people.
4. Protect the judge in the courtroom
A bailiff is the only person, apart from the security personnel, who is legally authorized to carry arms and self-defense weapons in the courtroom. Furthermore, a bailiff is also legally allowed to chuck out people from the courtroom if they're causing much noise and trouble of any kind. Bailiffs also stand a chance of screening all entrants in the room to make sure that they don't bring in prohibited stuff. They are also responsible for protecting all attendees of the courtroom.
5. Accompany sequestered juries
During the entire process of a trial, the jury members are not allowed to talk to the public. In high profile cases, things get even more intense as the media tries to hound the jury members to give statements. So bailiffs play an important role by escorting the jury members in the court. Bailiffs are also responsible for making sure that the jury members don't discuss the case with one another unless the trial hasn't started. If you want to know more about their role in protecting jury members, click here.
So these were some of the important duties of bailiffs. The truth be told, they are the managers of the court and also ones that protect the lives of people who are attending the courtroom sessions.
