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Justices of the Peace
General Information Justices of the Peace are citizens appointed by Order-in-Council to perform specific administrative and judicial functions of the provincial court. There are approximately 175 Justices of the Peace located in communities throughout the province. Justices of the Peace are provided with training, however, they usually do not have law degrees. Traffic Safety Court and Bylaw Court Justices conduct trials on certain provincial statutes and municipal bylaw matters and, therefore, receive specific training about the judicial system, court process and trial procedures. These justices may also have previous justice or adjudication experience prior to receiving their appointments. The Office of the Supervising Justice of the Peace administers all matters dealing with Justices of the Peace and is responsible for:
You can contact the office by mail or by phone, during usual business hours, at: The Office of the Supervising Justice of the Peace
What is the Role of a Justice of the Peace? Justices of the Peace function as a "check and balance" between the administration of police powers and the rights of accused persons as guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Justices of the Peace are expected to exercise their judicial functions in a fair, impartial and independent manner, free of extraneous influence. Justices of the Peace are expected to demonstrate a high standard of judicial conduct in order to maintain the public's confidence in the judicial system.
What Functions Do Justices of the Peace Perform? The duties of Justices of the Peace include:
Justices of the Peace can also perform certain court functions in the absence of a Provincial Court Judge. These are:
In Regina and Saskatoon, specially designated and trained "senior presiding" Justices of the Peace have authority to:
Can Justices of the Peace Perform Marriages? No. In the Province of Saskatchewan, Justices of the Peace do not have the authority under the Justices of the Peace Act to perform marriages. Civil marriages are performed by Marriage Commissioners. In Prince Albert, Saskatoon or Regina contact the Marriage Unit of Saskatchewan Justice at (306) 787-4132 for more information. For all other locations in the province call (306) 787-3869.
When Are Justices of the Peace Appointed? All Justices of the Peace must retire at the age of 65. For this reason, and due to other resignations, vacancies occur regularly throughout the year. Positions are filled on an "as needed" basis. Once a position becomes vacant a notice is placed in one or more of the local newspapers requesting applications. The Office of the Supervising Justice of the Peace does not maintain an inventory of applicants and only accepts applications when a position is being filled. Interested individuals must complete an application form and may also choose to submit a resume.
What Qualifications Are Needed to Become a Justice of the Peace? The basic qualifications to be appointed as a Justice of the Peace are:
Other desirable qualifications, which may be taken into consideration during the application process, relate to the applicant's availability, communication skills, community involvement, previous experience and career background.
Who Can Not Be Appointed as a Justice of the Peace?
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