Justices of the Peace

Justices of the Peace are elected every two years during the General Election in November. Candidates are nominated through a party caucus or may run as an independent. The number of Justices of the Peace in each municipality in Vermont is determined by its population and thus can change every 10 years following the U.S. Census. Hinesburg currently has 12 Justices of the Peace. The duties of Justices Of The Peace can fall into five categories of responsibilities:

  • Elections – Justices of the Peace are members of the Board of Civil Authority (BCA). The BCA is responsible for adding and removing names from the voter checklist unless that duty has been designated to the town clerk.  Members of the BCA serve as election officials at town or statewide elections.
  • Tax Abatement and Appeals – Justices of the Peace sit as members of the town Board for Abatement of taxes to determine whether a taxpayer's tax obligation should be forgiven under certain statutory circumstances. Justices of the Peace also serve an important role in the town's tax appeal process. As members of the Board of Civil Authority, Justices sit to hear and decide appeals when citizens do not agree with the final decision of the town Assessor.
  • Marriages – Justices of the Peace may solemnize marriages in Vermont.
  • Oaths and Notary – Justice of the Peace may administer oaths in all cases where an oath is required, unless the law makes a different provision. A Justice of the Peace can be a notary public ex officio, provided they file the appropriate application with the County Court.
  • Magistrate – Justices of the Peace may serve as a magistrate when so commissioned by the Supreme Court.

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