method of coroner's election in the Usa?

Question

hi i'm a university student here in Italy, and i'm graduating in law.
my thesis require to describe, at a certain point, the differences between UK coroner's system and Usa coroner's system.
In Uk, lord chief justice appoints the chief coroners, that latter will appoints seniors coroners.
but in the usa from what i've read, coroner's are elected by the people.
Since i'm not competent in usa laws, it would be nice if someone can link me some of the laws ininvolved with coroner's election, or at least explain me how the election process of a coroner work.
Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Personally, I've never voted for a coroner. Maybe they are elected in some uncivilized southern states, but not anywhere I've lived.



You can find state-by-state info here: http://www.funeralethics.org/summary.htm



It sounds like most of the more urban areas have Medical Examiners instead of coroners, and the MEs are physicians appointed by a board of health. But yes, there are many backward counties in places like Texas where "the officiator of death in all but the 12 largest counties (where there are medical examiner systems) is an elected judicial official known as the Justice of the Peace."



Sounds like an outdated system that needs to be revised.



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If you follow this link: http://www.funeralethics.org/summary.htm you'll see that many places in the USA do NOT have coroner elections, and some do. It varies not by state but by county within the state. More urban places (New Orleans obviously excepted) tend to have Medical Examiners who are appointed (based on credentials, experience, etc) and not elected.



As I say, I've never lived in a place with coroner elections, and I've lived in 5 different states and many counties.

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Answer 2

Well, it depends on the state and municipality here in the USA. Some areas elect the coroner by popular vote (they run in an election as any other official does), others are selected by appointment (given the job by mayors/governors, etc), and still others are hired on the basis of merit as medical examiners (most large cities). There is no easy answer to this question due to the federal nature of our nation.



The majority of people in the USA live in areas that have medical examiners, not coroners. In places where we have coroners, it is often an administrative position- the person's only duty is signing paperwork and being the custodian of records.

Answer 3

Each county has their own ways of selecting the coroner. In many locales, you don't even have to be a doctor, just a politician.