Jack Merriam is a senior bailiff at the Duval County Courthouse, having served there for 19 years. Once his supervisor, Ed St. John, retires in January, Merriam, 78, will be in charge.
WHAT DOES HE DO?
Handling mainly civil cases, his duties include manning the information desk and answering calls. Although Merriam has been saddled with desk work for the last three years, he still ventures into a courtroom occasionally to call court to order, direct jurors, escort witnesses and staff courtrooms for citizen review panels, investitures, swearing in ceremonies and hearings.
HOW DID YOU GET THE JOB?
“I was retired. A fellow at church — it was a policeman — said, ‘Would you like to be a bailiff?’ and I said, ‘Well, I don’t know anything about it.’ But anyway, I put in and I think I had to wait two years before I ever got the job. Back then it was $4.02 an hour.”
PRE-RETIREMENT
From 1941 to 1945, Merriam was a propeller specialist for the Army Air Corps in Europe. He followed his military career with active duty during the Cuban missile crisis while in the Navy reserves. Before becoming part of the judicial system, Merriam was an aerospace quality control specialist for NASA.
WHY BECOME A BAILIFF?
“It’s something to do. I’ve worked all my life and I’m up early every morning. When I retired I cut the grass twice a week, watched it grow in the meantime, fixed everything I could around the house and all the neighbors. It’s not good to sit back in a rocking chair. You need something to do.”
WHAT DO YOU DISLIKE ABOUT THE JOB?
Hitching a ride on the trolley to get to work every morning is Merriam’s pet peeve. He prefers the closer parking courthouse employees used to enjoy.
HOMETOWN
Palatka.
FAMILY
Merriam lives on the Southside with his wife Bernelle. They have two sons, Roger and Kenneth, three grandchildren and one great grandson.
EDUCATION
Andrew Jackson High School.
HOW HAVE THE COURTS CHANGED?
“They’re a lot more lax now. They’re not as strict on the dress. They [potential jurors] come in here with T-shirts and shorts. They’ll even come in bringing their babies thinking they’re going to get off [jury duty]. They’ve got more excuses than you can shake a stick at.”
WHEN TENSIONS RUN HIGH
“Every courtroom has a button [under the judge’s bench]. He gets help right fast if he pushes that button.”
MISCONCEPTIONS
“It’s not like a TV show. We don’t have any [trials] that go on as long as O.J.’s. We had a four or five week one once, but normally they last three to four days. Some of the arguing that people did with the judge, you couldn’t do that and get away with it. Lawyers might be bantering back and forth and he [the judge] would say, ‘No, that’s enough. You talk to me and not the other side.’ Some of these lawyers try to get their point across in the wrong way. They couldn’t do that in a real courtroom. That judge can hold them in contempt.”
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
“Court TV” filmed part of an asbestos trial at the courthouse.
FAVORITES
Merriam enjoys “COPS” and “Court TV” or reading non-fictional accounts of World War II. Away from the courthouse, Merriam likes to dine at Julian’s in Ormond Beach or play slots in Biloxi, Miss.
—by Monica Chamness