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).

 

All the JP's in the right column hold office for the term January 6, 2025 to January 2, 2029