High Sheriff - England, Wales and Northern Ireland

England, Wales and Northern Ireland

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the high sheriff (previously the sheriff) is theoretically the Sovereign's judicial representative in the county, while the Lord Lieutenant is the Sovereign's personal representative. (The post should not be confused with that of sheriff in Scotland, who is a judge sitting in a sheriff court.) Their jurisdictions, the "shrieval counties", are no longer co-terminous with administrative areas, representing a mix between the ancient counties and more recent local authority areas.

The office of sheriff had its origins in the 10th century; the office reached the height of its influence under the Norman kings. While the sheriffs originally had been men of great standing at court, the thirteenth century saw a process whereby the office devolved on local men. The Provisions of Oxford (1258) established a yearly tenure of office. The appointments and duties of the sheriffs in England and Wales were laid down by the Sheriffs Act 1887. Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, on 1 April 1974 the office previously known as sheriff was retitled high sheriff.

The serving high sheriff submits a list of names of possible future high sheriffs to a tribunal which chooses three names to put to the Sovereign. The nomination is made on 12 November every year and the term of office runs from 25 March, the start of the year prior to 1752. No person may be appointed twice in three years unless there is no other suitable person in the county.