SERJEANT

The same word etymologic ally with “sergeant,” but the latter spelling Is more commonly employed in the designation of military and police officers, (see Seb geant,) while the former is preferred when the term is used to describe certain grades of legal practitioners and certain officers of legislative bodies. See infra. -Common serjeant. A judicial officer attached to the corporation of the city of London, who assists the recorder in disposing of the criminal business at the Old Bailey sessions, or central criminal court. Brown. Serjeant at arms. An executive officer appointed by, and attending on, a legislative< body, whose principal duties are to execute its warrants, preserve order, and arrest offenders. Serjeant at law. A barrister of the common law courts of high standing, and of much the same rank as a doctor of law is in the ecclesiastical courts. These Serjeants seem to have derived their title from the old knights templar, (among whom there existed a peculiar class under the denomination of "frdre» sergens," or "fratres tervientes") and to have continued as a separate fraternity from a very early period in the history of the legal profession. The barristers who first assumed the old monastic title were those who practiced in the court of common pleas, and until a recent period (the 25th of April, 1834, 9 & 10 Vict. c. 54) the Serjeants at law always had the exclusive privilege of practice in that court. Every judge of a common law court, previous to his elevation to the bench, used to De created a serjeant at law; but since the judicature act this is no longer necessary. Brown. Serjeant of the mace. In English law. An officer who attends the lord mayor of London, and the chief magistrates of other corporate towns. Holthouse. Serjeants' Inn. The inn to which the Serjeants at law belonged, near Chancery lane; formerly called "Faryndon Inn." Serjeantia idem est quod servitium. Co. Litt. 105. Serjeanty is the same as service.