JPus in the News

ON THE second to last day of the session, the New Hampshire Senate tacked an unrelated amendment onto a guaranteed-to-pass bill. This move, done without notifying constituents, gives anyone temporary authorization to officiate a marriage. This will increase the risk of coronavirus spread. The House passed the bill the next day. New Hampshire needs Governor Sununu to step in and halt this irresponsible action.
Unlike professional marriage officiants, lay officiants are careless; up to 90% make serious errors. New Hampshire is taking extraordinary measures to stay safe during the pandemic. It is counter-intuitive to compound the danger by suddenly loosening rules — especially around high-risk group gatherings.
States that have lay officiants are speaking out. Current and past presidents of the Vermont Town Clerk Association have gone on record reporting that the aforementioned errors double town clerks’ workload and invalidate marriages. Temporary officiant rules can also be used by those with nefarious intentions, making victims of child and forced marriage more vulnerable. Because of the problems, Massachusetts introduced a legislative resolve to evaluate its temporary officiant rule.

JPs take their responsibility seriously.

On the other hand, there is a perfectly good system in place: professional justices of the peace are commissioned by the state to perform marriages. They have experience to protect our community. They take an oath to serve, and they are informed. JPs are invested in their role, joining professional organizations, honing their skills and pursuing training opportunities. They take their responsibility seriously.
An Act Establishing a Special Marriage Officiant License (HB 1599) died in the House mid-June. Lawmakers then made their surprise 11th-hour move, reviving the language of the bill as an amendment: first to HB 1491, and when that failed, then to HB 1240. The latter bill protects students from sexual assault, guaranteeing the votes to pass and protection from a veto.
During the winter/spring 2020 session, both the New Hampshire City and Town Clerk Association (NHCTCA) and the Justice of the Peace Association (JPus) with 58 JPs signing on, submitted testimony in opposition to the original legislation (HB 1599). Our members were ready to let their senators hear about the significant problems — had they been alerted that the matter was under consideration. Instead, we learned after-the-fact that the bill passed without opportunity for voters to get involved. This move leaves us feeling trapped, our hands tied, unable to have our voice heard.

Risks due to COVID-19 have made the problems related to amateur officiants more urgent. As the state opens up, keeping our community safe is of the utmost importance. JPus has taken a lead, recognizing the responsibility that professional marriage officiants have. We developed a training certification, COVID-19 Best Practices for Marriage Officiants, heeding OSHA guidance. We’re a conduit between the Secretary of State’s Office and JPs, and we also have other resources for officiants and couples to help them navigate these uncertain times. We’re all facing challenges. This is when we need professionals to step up and advise us, to be a part of our system helping us stay safe.
Because there is no line-item veto option in the state, we ask Governor Sununu to take action to undo the special marriage officiant amendment. The Justice of the Peace Association proposed alternative language that would reduce risk for couples by requiring a JP witness the ceremonies of amateur officiants. Incorporating this as an executive order would satisfy the spirit of the amendment, while simultaneously resolving the problems. Alternatively, suspend the rule all together, and next year let’s get a better, more thought-through bill on the table instead.
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Loretta Jay is the managing member of the Justice of the Peace Association, a professional membership organization serving civil marriage officiants in all New England states except Rhode Island.