Justices of the Peace

The Justices of the Peace are also part of the Board of Civil Authority. To become a justice of the peace, you must be elected at a general election, or appointed to fill a vacancy by the Governor of Vermont.

To have your name placed on a ballot for the office of Justice of the Peace a person must be a legal voter of the town, submitted a petition for office, or have been nominated by a political party caucus. In order to be nominated by a party caucus, the party members in each town must meet at a duly warned meeting and submit a list of candidates no later than three days following the State Primary. Independent candidates must submit a petition no later than three days following the State Primary in even-numbered years.

The Town of Jericho has 12 Justices of the Peace. The duties of the justices fall into five categories of responsibilities:

• Elections
• Tax Abatement and Appeals
• Civil Marriages
• Oaths and Notary
• Magistrate

Updating the voter checklist, hearing tax abatements and tax grievance appeals are the duties of the Board of Civil Authority (BCA). The Board of Civil Authority consists of the Justices of the Peace, the Town of Jericho Select Board, and the Town Clerk. The Board of Tax Abatement included the BCA plus the Town Treasurer, and the three Listers.

For more information see the Vermont State Statutes:

• 17 V.S.A. §2122
• 17 V.S.A. §2142 – 2150
• Vermont Election Law, title 17

For further information on the Justice of the Peace

• Justice of the Peace Guide
• Secretary of State Guidelines for Officiants

For more information on the duties of the Justice of the Peace click the buttons below.