Legal Definitions - balliva

Definition: Balliva is another term for bailiwick, which refers to the office, jurisdiction, or district of a bailiff. It is the area where a bailiff has the authority to maintain peace and order.

For example, in the early days, a village was called a 'wick,' and each village had a bailiff who was responsible for maintaining peace and order within the territory of the wick. The bailiff's jurisdiction was limited to the area of the wick, and this area was referred to as the bailiwick of the bailiff.

Similarly, a police officer's bailiwick is usually the city where they work, while a sheriff's bailiwick is their county. A state officer, such as a member of the Highway Patrol, has the entire state as their bailiwick.

The term balliva is not commonly used today, but it is still used in some legal contexts.