Legal Definitions - cryer

A crier (sometimes spelled "cryer") is an official in a court of law or other formal public setting whose primary duty is to make public proclamations and announcements. Their role is to ensure that official information is clearly communicated to all present, maintain order, and facilitate the proceedings.

Key responsibilities of a crier often include:

• Announcing the opening and closing of court sessions.
• Calling witnesses or parties to appear before the court.
• Administering oaths to witnesses or jurors.
• Making other official announcements as directed by the judge or presiding officer.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of a crier:

• Courtroom Proceedings: At the start of a trial, the crier stands before the courtroom and announces, "All rise! The Honorable Judge [Judge's Name] presiding." They then wait for the judge to be seated before instructing everyone, "Please be seated." Later, the crier might call out, "Will witness [Witness's Name] please come forward?"

  This example demonstrates the crier's role in formally opening court sessions and calling individuals to participate, ensuring order and clear communication of the court's proceedings.

• Governmental Public Hearing: During a public hearing held by a city council on a proposed zoning change, an official acting as a crier might announce, "The public hearing on Ordinance 2023-05 is now open. Those wishing to speak, please approach the podium when your name is called." They might then call out names from a speaker list.

  Here, the crier facilitates a formal public process by announcing the opening of a hearing and managing the participation of the public, ensuring that the official proceedings are structured and understood.

• Legislative Session: In some legislative bodies, a crier might be responsible for formally announcing the start of a session, such as, "Hear ye, hear ye! The [State/Provincial] Assembly is now in session." They might also be tasked with announcing the results of a vote or other official actions taken by the body.

  This illustrates the crier's function in a legislative context, where formal announcements are crucial for marking the beginning of official business and communicating key decisions to members and the public.