About Vermont JPs Information from the Vermont Justice of the Peace Guide   HOW TO BECOME A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE To become a justice of the peace, you must be elected at a general election or be appointed to fill a vacancy. Although elected by a town, justices of the peace are actually county officers.  ELECTION OF JUSTICES A person must be a legal voter of the town and have been nominated by party caucus or, failing that, by the town committee in order to be elected justice of the peace. A person may also run as an independent. NUMBER […]

Town, City and County Clerks Clerks and JPs: A Natural Partnership Town and county clerks are important and valued stakeholders of the Justice of the Peace Association. They have a complementary relationship with JPs, as both engage with couples at different stages of the marriage’s legal process. We love to work together to achieve our shared goals, like we did with Connecticut and Massachusetts town clerks when we squashed proposed JP for a Day legislation in Connecticut. Or efforts in Massachusetts to address the problems with the One-Day Solemnizer rule. Email Sign-up Form Offices of the Secretaries of State Collaborating with the […]

Legislation 2023 Rep Kevin O’Connell, in the 131st session, again submitted a bill, LD443: An Act to Prohibit Marriage of Any Person Under 18 Years of Age. Initially, JPus supported the bill and submitted testimony to the JointCommittee on Judiciary. Unfortunately, an amendment was added changing the minimum age to 17 – and it passed. But, not good enough. 2021 In the first regular session of the 130th Maine legislative body, LD622 was introduced by Representative Kevin O’Connell of Brewster. The act amends the law to completely prohibit marriage of any person under 18 years of age. The Justice of […]

  The Justice of the Peace Association submitted written testimony to the Maine Joint Judiciary Committee, urging them to vote in favor of LB443 Related Links This Portland Press Herald news story cited the Justice of the Peace Association and its managing member Loretta Jay’s position opposing child marriage. Information about our advocacy for officiants about child and forced marriage. Education and training for officiants about child and forced marriage JPus has been on the forefront of legislative activity to end child marriage in other states Follow our state-by-state changes to marriage laws Membership voted to join the Coalition to End Child Marriage […]