Sheriff of Sutherland
The Sheriff of Sutherland was historically a royal appointment, held at pleasure, which carried the responsibility for enforcing justice in the sheriffdom of Sutherland, Scotland. It became a heritable post in the hands of the Earls of Sutherland until 1747, when it reverted, in combination with Caithness, to being a Royal appointment, usually for life. From 1806 to 1857 the sheriffdom again existed in its own right, after which it was once again merged with Caithness.