Bailiff Law & Legal Definition
A bailiff is someone entrusted with the care and protection, guardianship, or jurisdiction of a person, land, or personal property pending further court action. It also refers to a court official or a law enforcement officer, usually a deputy sheriff, marshal or constable, who keeps order in the courtroom and handles various tasks for the judge and clerk such as calling cases to approach the bench. The bailiff acts as an intermediary between the judge and attorneys.
The bailiff’s job is to take care of the jury and to make sure that everyone follows the judges orders and behaves in the courtroom. If someone does not behave in the courtroom, the bailiff can make that person leave the courtroom. The bailiff protects the people in the courtroom and in the courthouse. He might wear a uniform with a gun or he might wear a suit.
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