Legal Definitions - tipstaff

Definition: A tipstaff is a court crier who announces the beginning and end of court sessions. The name comes from the staff that the crier holds, which is tipped with silver as a badge of office.

Examples:

• The tipstaff announced the judge's entrance into the courtroom.
• The tipstaff declared the end of the trial and dismissed the jury.

These examples illustrate how a tipstaff functions as a court crier, announcing important events during court proceedings. The tipstaff's role is to maintain order and ensure that everyone in the courtroom is aware of what is happening.