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Coroner
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The office of county coroner became constitutional
with statehood in 1818. Coroners were elected for two-year terms.1
The duties of the coroner were to aid in keeping the peace; to carry out
the duties of the sheriff in his absence; to hold inquests and hear
testimony over the bodies of all persons suspected of dying through
unnatural causes; and to arrest all persons found guilty of homicide by
coroner’s juries.2
In 1869, coroners were required to keep inquest
records on file.3 In 1880, their election
terms were lengthened to four years; and in 1971, coroners were
authorized to take blood and other samples from bodies as required by
law.4
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1 |
Constitution of 1818, Article III, section 11. |
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2 |
L. 1821, pp. 22-23. |
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3 |
L. 1869, p. 104. |
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4 |
Constitution of 1870, 1880 Amendment, Article
X, section 8; P.A. 77-659. |
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 To
Records Descriptions—Coroner
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