Sheriff

in the United States, a court officer usually elected by a popular vote. His principal duties are to preserve peace and order throughout the county, to attend court, summon juries, serve the processes of the court and execute its judgments, to guard prisoners and produce them when called upon, arrest offenders, etc. The sheriff is authorized to appoint one or more deputies. The authority of the sheriff is greater in England than in America. He is the chief officer of the Crown in every county of shire. He is intrusted by letters patent from the Crown with the execution of the laws and the preservation of the peace, and for this purpose the entire civil force within the county is placed at his disposal. Formerly the sheriff exercised important judicial functions but generally these now devolve upon the courts themselves. In Scotland the sheriff is a judge. He has both civil and criminal jurisdiction in minor actions. He is also a judge in bankruptcy. He is not allowed to try civil cases without a jury, however. The Scotch sheriff revises the list of electors and returns the writs for the election of members of Parliament.

Sherlock Holmes. See Doyle; A. Conan