Tuesday 12 February 2019

All About The Justice Of The Peace

By Patricia Foster


When it comes to infractions of peace, courts of law accordingly deal with them. However, this comes in gradations, and unless one does something specifically heinous or controversial, then the case need not transcend to higher courts, for better or worse. There lies the importance and purpose of 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.

To be a JP, one must be a person of undoubted integrity, who places a premium on the rights and justice of individuals in his community. The influence of this job is such that its practice has come to be regulated by the Ministry of Justice. In fact, before they get to assume their office, they must perform an oath of allegiance and affirmation of office.

They also have considerable law enforcement related duties. For instance, they have the power to put forth search and arrest warrants. They can also grant bail, adjourn hearings, and some such.

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.

Generally speaking, JPs are like lay officers in the court of law. Therefore, the judicial duties they perform are quite technical and specialized, since they need to be duly authorized by a chief judge, so that they could authoritatively carry out their duties. By exercising these vested judicial duties, they proffer a very nifty service to their fellow community members.

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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