Glossary
Bailiff Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential bailiff terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key bailiff vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in bailiff training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- All rise
- The announcement when the judge enters.
- Bench
- The judge’s seat.
- Chain of custody
- Tracking evidence handling.
- Contempt of court
- Disobeying or disrespecting the court.
- Docket
- The list of cases for a court.
- Duress alarm
- An emergency alarm button.
- Exhibit
- Evidence presented in court.
- Gallery
- The public seating area.
- Holding cell
- A temporary cell in the courthouse.
- In custody
- A defendant held by authorities.
- Jury sequestration
- Keeping jurors separated from outside influence.
- Recess
- A break in proceedings.
- Remand
- Sending a defendant back into custody.
- A private discussion at the bench.
- Voir dire
- Jury selection questioning.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free Bailiff practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Bailiff training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.