Bailiff
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"Acting" required-YES
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Skills to learn-NO
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Preparation required-YES-learn about your role and
court procedures
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Participation during trial-announce
judge, keep a list of all exhibits entered into evidence, description and
labeling of each item, control of evidence bag, keep a list of all
witnesses, including their names and roles
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Depending on class size, this role may not be available
http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/charters_of_freedom/bill_of_rights/bill_of_rights.html
(constitution)
http://www.19thcircuitcourt.state.il.us/bkshelf/resource/sa_crt_pro.htm
(guide to mock trials)
http://www.judicial.state.ia.us/students/ (judicial branch resources)
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/ (Supreme court)
http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/dayarch/rivday12.htm (courts -“a day in
the life”)
http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/325/325lect06.htm (eyewitness
info/bail/pretrial motions)
http://www.lectlaw.com/lay.html (laypeople law)
http://www.bc.edu/schools/law/library/research/researchguides/citations/
(reading legal citations)
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/flowchart.htm (CJ flow chart)
http://www.uncp.edu/home/vanderhoof/m-trial/butler/case-1.html
1 a : an official employed by a British
sheriff to serve writs and make arrests and executions b : a minor
officer of some United States courts usually serving as a messenger or usher
5.
There is at least one Bailiff in every courtroom. A courtroom
bailiff is a sworn peace officer and in the courts of Stanislaus
County they are members of the Stanislaus County Sheriff's
Department. The bailiff's duties are to:
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Provide security for the courtroom, the judge, the staff and
those in attendance.
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Escort defendants who are in custody and prevent escapes.
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Assist in the administration of court functions as directed
by the judge and the clerk.
For more
information on the Sheriff's Department or bailiffs click on
http://www.co.stanislaus.ca.us/sheriff/index.htm
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A court official usually classified as a peace officer (sometimes as a deputy
sheriff, or marshal) and usually wearing a uniform. A bailiff's main job is to
maintain order in the courtroom. In addition, bailiffs often help court
proceedings go smoothly by shepherding
witnesses in and out of the courtroom and handing
evidence to witnesses as they
testify. In criminal
cases, the bailiff may have temporary charge of any
defendant who is in custody during court proceedings.
Bailiffs enforce the rules of behavior in courtrooms.
"All rise for the honorable Judge Smith," says the bailiff. Everyone
in the courtroom obeys. Aside from a few other statements, the
bailiff is silent, keeping watch. Does this mean that bailiffs are
hired simply to announce the judge? Not so. Bailiffs actually have a
variety of duties.
Bailiffs provide security in courtrooms. At the beginning of their
shifts, they check courtrooms to make sure they are safe. They look
for concealed guns, bombs, or other hazards. They also make sure
courtrooms are clean. As people enter courtrooms, bailiffs make sure
they are not carrying guns. When they find unauthorized weapons,
bailiffs take them and store them in a safe location.
Bailiffs announce the entrance of judges into courtrooms. During
trials, bailiffs maintain order in courtrooms. They prevent people
from entering courtrooms while judges are instructing juries. They
also make sure people watching trials do not talk to the jury.
Bailiffs also inform people of courtroom rules and enforce those
rules. For example, they may tell people they are not allowed to
smoke in courtrooms or that their conversations are interrupting
court proceedings. Bailiffs may remove or arrest people who do not
cooperate. In addition, they restrain people watching trials who act
aggressively when they dislike decisions. If needed, bailiffs
contact the sheriff's office for help. In case of medical
emergencies, they contact medical staff.
Many trials last more than one day. Occasionally, judges decide that
jurors cannot return to their homes until trials are over. In these
situations, jurors must stay at hotels. Bailiffs guard these hotels
and escort jurors to restaurants to keep the public from contacting
them.
Bailiffs have other duties in addition to providing security. They
make sure judges have case files and supplies. They also swear in
witnesses, handle articles of evidence, and escort prisoners to and
from court.
Officer of some U.S. courts whose duties include
keeping order in the courtroom and guarding
prisoners or jurors in deliberation. In medieval
Europe, it was a title of some dignity and power,
denoting a manorial superintendent or royal agent
who collected fines and rent, served writs,
assembled juries, made arrests, and executed the
monarch's orders. The bailiff's authority was
gradually eroded by the increasing need to use
administrators with legal or other specialized
training.
COURT
BAILIFF
Masters-at-Arms may also be assigned to duties of a court
bailiff. A bailiff should be present at every trial to
announce the opening and closing of the court, to obtain
witnesses as they are called to testify, to ask everyone to
rise when the trial judge enters or leaves the courtroom,
and to take care of administrative errands during the trial.
The trial counsel is responsible for briefing the bailiff as
to his or her duties.
Duties of
the Bailiff
The
bailiff may
look to
the trial counsel for specific instruction as to his or her
duties and for directions before and after each session of
the court. While the court is in session, the bailiff is
under the supervision of the military judge and will assist
the military judge and counsel in the conduct of an orderly
trial. The bailiff should be familiar with the location of
the principal offices and facilities, such as the library,
within the law complex.
The
following is a list of the duties of a court bailiff: . The
bailiff reports to the trial counsel in the
uniform
of the day with duty belt and appropriate cover at least 30
minutes before the beginning of each day's proceedings.
Thereafter the bailiff reports to the military judge 15
minutes before the beginning of the day's proceedings. l The
bailiff sees that the courtroom, including the
spectator
area and the deliberation room for court members, has a neat
and orderly appearance and will arrange the furniture
properly. |
Conduct of
Bailiff
The
bailiff should remain neutral throughout the trial of a case
and not assume a partisan attitude toward either the
prosecution or the defense. The bailiff should never
participate in any discussion of the merits of the case or
attempt to predict the outcome of the trial. The bailiff
should also avoid making any
comments
on the performance of counsel for either side or on the
testimony of witnesses.
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Bailiff
-
"Acting" required-YES
-
Skills to learn-NO
-
Preparation required-YES-learn about your role and court
procedures
-
Participation during trial-announce judge, keep a list of
all exhibits entered into evidence, description and labeling of each item,
control of evidence bag, keep a list of all witnesses, including their names and
roles
-
Depending on class size, this role may not be available
http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/charters_of_freedom/bill_of_rights/bill_of_rights.html
(constitution)
http://www.19thcircuitcourt.state.il.us/bkshelf/resource/sa_crt_pro.htm
(guide to mock trials)
http://www.judicial.state.ia.us/students/ (judicial branch resources)
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/ (Supreme court)
http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/courts/dayarch/rivday12.htm (courts -“a day in
the life”)
http://faculty.ncwc.edu/toconnor/325/325lect06.htm (eyewitness
info/bail/pretrial motions)
http://www.lectlaw.com/lay.html (laypeople law)
http://www.bc.edu/schools/law/library/research/researchguides/citations/
(reading legal citations)
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/flowchart.htm (CJ flow chart)
http://www.uncp.edu/home/vanderhoof/m-trial/butler/case-1.html