Sheriff's officers who execute writs (8)
I believe the answer is:
bailiffs
'sheriff's officers who execute writs' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for bailiffs that I've seen before include "Law officers who serve writs to confiscate goods" , "Strangely, FBI fails the court officers" , "Court officers who execute writs" , "Sheriff's officers who execute writs" .)