A high sheriff is a ceremonial officer for each shrieval county of England and Wales and Northern Ireland or the chief sheriff of a number of paid sheriffs in U.S. states who outranks and commands the others in their court-related functions. In Canada, the High Sheriff provides administrative services to the supreme and provincial courts.
The office existed in the Irish Free State, but was abolished in 1926.
In England and Wales, the offices of high sheriff were created at the direction of the Local Government Act 1972 incepting on 1 April 1974. The purpose was to distinguish sheriffs of counties proper from sheriffs of cities and boroughs designated counties corporate. Except for the City of London, which has two sheriffs, these cities and boroughs no longer have sheriffs, leaving only high sheriffs in England and Wales in the sheriff's office. The office is now an unpaid privilege with ceremonial duties, the sheriffs being appointed annually by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council except for Cornwall, where the high sheriff is appointed by the Duke of Cornwall (currently the Prince of Wales) and for Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Lancashire, where the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of Lancaster (currently the King). In England and Wales the office's civil (civil judgement) enforcement powers exist but are not exercised by convention.
The Website of the High Sheriffs’ Association of England and Wales stated in 2021 that the role was a "non-political Royal appointment", for one year, and unpaid.[1]
A highsheriff is a ceremonial officer for each shrieval county of England and Wales and Northern Ireland or the chief sheriff of a number of paid sheriffs...
ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country. In England, Northern Ireland, or Wales, a sheriff (or highsheriff) is a ceremonial county...
Sheriffs and highsheriffs of Cornwall: a chronological list: The right to choose highsheriffs each year is vested in the Duchy of Cornwall. The Privy...
list of sheriffs and since 1998 highsheriffs of Worcestershire. The Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the Sheriff was the...
the HighSheriffs of the English county of Nottinghamshire. The HighSheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the HighSheriff was...
The HighSheriff of Dorset is an ancient highsheriff title which has been in existence for over one thousand years. Until 1567 the Sheriff of Somerset...
The highsheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown (prior to 1974 the office previously known as sheriff). Formerly the highsheriff was the...
Norman times been a HighSheriff of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the Royal Forests, appointed by the king, which became HighSheriff of Nottinghamshire...
the highsheriffs of the English county of Northumberland. The highsheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the HighSheriff was...
The HighSheriff of Devon is the Kings's representative for the County of Devon, a territory known as his/her bailiwick. Selected from three nominated...
office of HighSheriff of Somerset is an ancient shrievalty which has been in existence since the 11th century. Originally known as the "Sheriff of Somerset"...
The highsheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown and is appointed annually (in March) by the Crown. The HighSheriff of Norfolk was originally...
list of Sheriffs and HighSheriffs of Gloucestershire, who should not be confused with the Sheriffs of the City of Gloucester. The HighSheriff is the...
The HighSheriff of Buckinghamshire, in common with other counties, was originally the King's representative on taxation upholding the law in Saxon times...
list of Sheriffs (and after 1 April 1974, HighSheriffs) of Cheshire. The Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the Sheriff was the...
This is a list of HighSheriffs of Lincolnshire. The HighSheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the HighSheriff was the principal...
The HighSheriff of Oxfordshire, in common with other counties, was originally the King's representative on taxation upholding the law in Saxon times....
The sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries...
is a list of sheriffs and highsheriffs of Shropshire The sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the highsheriff was the principal...
This is a list of HighSheriffs of Hampshire. This title was often given as HighSheriff of the County of Southampton until 1959. 1070–1096: Hugh de Port...
The HighSheriff of Berkshire, in common with other counties, was originally the King's representative on taxation upholding the law in Saxon times. The...
The HighSheriff of Hertfordshire was an ancient Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the foundation of the Kingdom of England...
HighSheriff of Londonderry or HighSheriff of Derry can refer to: HighSheriff of Londonderry City, with responsibilities in the city of Derry High Sheriff...
The HighSheriff of Lancashire is an ancient office, now largely ceremonial, granted to Lancashire, a county in North West England. High Shrievalties are...
list of the HighSheriffs of Northamptonshire. The HighSheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the HighSheriff was the principal...
of sheriffs and highsheriffs of the English county of Warwickshire. The Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the Sheriff was...
This page is a list of HighSheriffs of Glamorgan. Sheriffs of Glamorgan served under and were answerable to the independent Lords of Glamorgan until that...
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