Definition Justice Of The Peace

A justice of the peace jp is a judicial officer of a lower or puisne court elected or appointed by means of a commission letters patent to keep the peace in past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the same meaning.

Definition justice of the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction such justices dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law. Justices of the peace abbr. The justice of the peace typically presides over a court that hears misdemeanor cases traffic violations and other petty criminal infractions. Justice of the peace definition is a local magistrate empowered chiefly to administer summary justice in minor cases to commit for trial and to administer oaths and perform marriages.

Define justice of the peace. Justice of the peace definition a local public officer usually having jurisdiction to try and determine minor civil and criminal cases and to hold preliminary examinations of persons accused of more serious crimes and having authority to administer oaths solemnize marriages etc.