A court usher is a member of the criminal or civil court who greets people as they enter the courtroom and performs other duties as needed during a hearing. Although there are no minimum requirements for this position, a high school diploma and excellent communication skills are usually required. Ushers are in charge of coordinating everything that takes place inside the courtroom, such as seating witnesses, administering oaths, labeling evidence, and setting up the courtroom. In the United States, the role of a court usher is referred to as “court officer.”
The court usher’s job entails preparing the courtroom each morning before the start of court. This part of the job entails making sure the judge, lawyers, and jury have all of the necessary equipment before the hearing begins. Another aspect of courtroom preparation is keeping the courtroom looking orderly between breaks and changes in court sessions.
The court usher is responsible for calling witnesses into the courtroom if they are waiting outside the room during court proceedings. During a court session, the usher performs tasks such as administering the oath to witnesses, escorting the jury to and from the courtroom, and relaying information from the lawyers to the judge. If the judge or lawyers in the courtroom request it, a person in this position will perform other tasks. He or she exudes a sense of command over the courtroom, including professional members of the court, the jury, and the public, throughout the proceedings.
The court usher’s job description includes labeling items as they are entered into evidence by the prosecution or defense. It’s also important to properly handle the evidence by storing it in designated areas and keeping track of it in a log. Evidence handling errors can lead to a mistrial, so all court ushers must be well-versed in touching, labeling, and recording important court evidence.
The court usher welcomes visitors to the courtroom as the court’s face. This includes members of the media, family members involved in the case, and other court visitors. One of the usher’s responsibilities is to be courteous and helpful to all court visitors. Court ushers should not let their personal feelings about a case or the people involved in the case interfere with their ability to perform their job duties.