Where To Find A Justice Of The Peace

By Patricia Foster


Civil justice cases and minor infractions occur at a pace that overtakes the capabilities of the limited number of high courts. However, most of these complaints need not at all fester or reach that far. They may be capably resolved by a Justice of The Peace Salem.

A JP is essentially a judicial officer of a so called puisne, or lower, court. He is either appointed or elected, and his task is, you guessed it, keeping the peace. Over history, this position has been tantamount to many kinds of positions like commissioners, keepers, conservators, or wardens, but their responsibilities are pretty much intuitive and set in stone.

Generally, the nitty gritty surrounding JPs vary with each jurisdiction, such that if they are limited to law functions, or else extend to administrative applications. This field is not very exclusive and limiting, and unlike higher legal responsibilities, this position does not need formal legal education for its qualifiers, and there are many forms of qualified training before being elected or appointed.

The JP necessarily has to be someone of good nature and stature in the community, with no adverse record at the very least. Although the criteria of appointment are diverse, this is pretty rigid. He has to be knowledgeable and trustworthy, given the technicality of his functions, like certifying copies, witnessing and signing statutory affidavits, and some such sensitive operations that they are authorized to do by virtue of their position.

In some states, this oath taking is accordingly presided by a superior judge, another JP, district court judge, or else a justice of the supreme court. The copy of this oath should be forwarded to the town clerk, or else the JP may be disqualified from performing in his office, and also fined. Once they assume office, they preside and take action in many responsibilities, some mandatory and some discretionary.

JPs have a long history, and they were variously called wardens, conservators, keepers of peace, you name it. Because of their useful nature, they continue to be useful and serviceable nowadays, by presiding over minor civil justice and criminal cases. They serve a very important role in delivering and establishing justice and its according services in the community over which they preside.

The general duties of the JP are basically those involving elections, tax abatement and appeals, marriages, notaries and oaths, or act as magistrates. They deal with affidavits, certifying documents, powers of attorney, statutory declarations, and some such. Their position really ranges over a lot of specialized, technical duties.

A JP plays an important role in civil infractions. They prevent a particular case from blowing up out of proportion by addressing them as soon as the complaints are lodged. They act as some kind of municipal magistrate that deal with lawsuits and small claims cases. Although these cases are deemed as considerably nugatory, they are not at all negligible. After all, we know the worth of the payments of small debts, the overturning of evictions, the prevention of domestic abuse, and the general resolution of lawsuits.

JPs are vested the same authorities and responsibilities of higher judges. They can administer oaths, perform marriages, and engage in myriad aspects of the administration of justice. They also have judicial codes of conduct and ethics by which they adhere. Above all, they should be true guardians of justice by embodying all its related principles.




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