Justices of the Peace have played a vital part in the judicial system beginning in 1686. By the end of the seventeenth century, justices were commonly authorized to take jurisdiction over small actions. As towns were incorporated, the General Assembly authorized the creation of town and borough courts in order to handle small cases. Justices of the peace presided over these courts. In 1939, the trial justice system was enacted, vesting the limited criminal jurisdiction formerly within the power of all justices of the peace in specially designated trial justices.

In Connecticut, the process of selecting a justice of the peace is prescribed by statute.  By law, two-thirds of such justices of the peace are selected by major political parties and one-third of the positions are reserved for electors who are not members of the major parties (i.e., unaffiliated voters or minor party members).  Justices are selected during presidential election years and serve a four-year term. 

The role of a justice of the peace is authorized by statute. Among other things, a justice of the peace may:

1. administer oaths (CGS § 1-24),

2. sign affidavits after administering oaths (CGS § 1-24),

3. acknowledge legal written documents (CGS § 1-29),

4. perform marriage ceremonies (CGS § 46b-22),

5. take depositions and issue subpoenas to compel witnesses to attend such depositions (CGS § 52-148c),

6. subpoenas witnesses to appear before the board of police commissioners of any municipality (CGS § 7-279), and

7. issue tax warrants (CGS § 12-130).

INTESTESTED IN BEING A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE?

Applications are available between August 1, 2024 and November 1, 2024 for anyone who would like to apply for appointment to the office of Justice of the Peace.  To be eligible, you must be a town elector and NOT a member of a major party (Democratic or Republican.)  The term runs from January 6, 2025 to January 2, 2029.  Unaffiliated or minor party voters who miss the November 1st deadline may not apply again until 2028.

If on November 1st the number of applications for Justice of the Peace filed with the Town Clerk under Connecticut General Statutes Sec 9-184c, exceeds the number of Justices of the Peace allowed under that section, the Town Clerk shall, on or before the 15th business day of November, select the remaining applicants to be appointed as Justices of the Peace by lot in a ceremony which shall be open to the public and held on five days’ public notice.

No one who is, or has been, a registered Democrat or Republican on or after May 1, 2024 may apply for one of these appointed Justice of the Peace slots.  (Each major party has already nominated their full number of candidates.)  Applications are available at the Town Clerk’s office or in the link below.  If you would like more information, please call 203-393-2100 x1104 or email townclerk@bethany-ct.com.

Application for non-major party Justice of the Peace - DUE November 1, 2024!

 

All the JP's in the right column hold office for the term January 4, 2021 to January 6, 2025