Court Officer or Macer

Also known as:

Law Court Usher
Magistrates' Court Usher
Usher, Court
Macer

Introduction

Court officers help to make sure courts run smoothly. Before a case or hearing begins, they prepare the court and arrange seating. They check that everyone has arrived, call witnesses and defendants into court, and help people to take the oath before they give evidence. In the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary, the people who carry out these duties are called Macers.

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Work Activities

Before a court case starts, officers prepare the court, arrange seating, put out drinking water and sometimes help the court clerk to put together the papers for the day's cases. They check that everyone has arrived, welcome jurors and call the court to order.

They make sure everything is ready for the judge or sheriff, including all relevant paperwork, together with gown and wig.

Once a case is about to begin, they introduce the judge or sheriff, call witnesses, and supervise the oath-taking. They label items of evidence, pass them to the judge and the jury and relay messages between the court clerk and the lawyers. They are also responsible for discipline and security in the public areas around the court.

Court officers or macers also explain court proceedings to the jurors. They make sure jurors know where they must sit in court, where they can find refreshments and where they will meet to discuss their verdict. At the end of the hearing, officers wait outside the jury room while the jury considers its verdict, arranging hotel accommodation if the jury cannot reach a verdict and has to stay overnight. Occasional overnight stays in hotels, accompanying the jury, may be required.

When the day's business is complete, officers tidy up and secure the court. They may also have other clerical and administrative duties such as filing, data inputting and photocopying.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As a court officer or macer, you must have good communication skills, including good spoken and written English. You must be capable of speaking clearly and with confidence.

Patience, politeness and tolerance are important assets when dealing with defendants or witnesses who may be nervous. You should be capable of calming and reassuring witnesses when necessary.

You must be methodical and have good organisational skills to make sure that everything needed is in the right place at the right time. It is also important that you are discreet and respect confidentiality.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Court officers or macers are paid on a rising scale. In Scotland they earn in the range of around £12,000 - £14,300 a year. In England and Wales earnings are in the range of £12,000 - £15,000.

Court officers usually work a basic 37-hour week, Monday to Friday. Some courts require an early start, usually 8:00 or 8:30 am, and there may be late sittings from time to time. Part-time employment and casual work may be available.

The 49 Sheriff Courts in Scotland employ approximately 110 court officers. There are about 22 macers working in either the Court of Session in Edinburgh or in the High Courts of Justiciary in either Glasgow or Edinburgh.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Many entrants have previously worked in relevant occupations, such as in the police, prison service or armed services.

• 36% of people in occupations such as court usher/officer work part-time.
• 3% have flexible hours.
• 5% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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Further Information

In English courts the name of this job is Court Usher.

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