Submitted by evought on
- The "Constitutional Sheriff" is not in the Constitution! The Office of Sheriff comes from Common Law (Edwin the Elder, 902 AD), from County Charters, and from some state Constitutions
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"Sheriff", comes from "Shire Reeve": an official responsible for keeping the peace on behalf of the King[bib]158[/bib]
- In common law, "Conservators of the Peace" include the judges, sheriff, police, and constables (note Delaware dispute)
- In US, Sheriff's elected rather than appointed by the King
- The highest elected law enforcement officer (often the only); except St. Louis County, MO
- Deputies or "Sheriff's Officers" are commissioned by and act on behalf of Sheriff
- Originally, Sheriffs "held court" to try local offenses; this went away with the development of the medieval Circuit Court system, split into Sheriff, Magistrate, and the first jury trials
- Sheriff is an "office", not a "department"; answers directly to the citizenry