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The good news about becoming a JP in Connecticut is that there are no special requirements, no
exams to take or fees to pay. The less good news is that the process is tightly
controlled by the major political parties in your town and its Town Clerk.
The Process
- While the state regulates the activities of JPs, Connecticut's 168
towns and cities control both the total number and the selection
process.
- Each town allots one-third of its total number to the
Republican
 s and one-third to the Democrats. The remaining one-third
goes to those who are members of minor parties or politically unaffiliated.
- Each political party writes its own rules about who gets appointed
and how. Independents simply apply to the Town
Clerk.
- JPs serve for four years, in phase with presidential
elections, and take office on January 1. The year 2008 is thus an
"election" year for JPs as well as for U.S. president.
If you're considering becoming a JP, here are some things to do to help you
decide and make it happen.
Talk to the Town Clerk
- Ask your Town Clerk for the list of all the JPs in your town. (You may
have to get this in person.) Also ask for the state's Justice of the Peace
Manual, a must-have document. If one is not available at Town Hall, get one
from the Secretary of the State in Hartford by calling 860-509-6200.
Talk to a JP
- Find a JP or two in your town to talk to, preferably those registered in
the same political party (or non-affiliated) as you.
- When you talk to the JPs, find out what it's like to be one. What do they really
do? How much do they get paid for their services? Don't be afraid to ask
those personal questions that will help you to judge whether you want to go
ahead with the process. If they're political appointees, they can also give
you hints about that aspect of the process.
Talk to the Chair of your Political Party
- The Town Clerk has the names and phone numbers of the Chairpersons of the
political parties in your town. When you call the party Chair, you'll be
asked if you're a member of that party, and perhaps about your past service
or contributions to the party. Be sure you can state in a couple of
sentences why you want to be a JP.
- The Chair will probably ask you to submit a letter outlining your reasons
for becoming a JP and your qualifications. When you do, be sure to follow up
and see if there is anything else you can do to bolster your chances.
Becoming active in local politics will surely help your cause.
- Ask the Chair about the criteria used for selecting JPs. Ask if all
the slots are currently filled. If they are, ask what plans exist for
replacing JPs who move away or pass away. This could get you selected
much sooner than waiting for the next election.
If you're politically unaffiliated or belong to a minor party and have not
already applied to become a JP, you have to wait until the next presidential election
year.
- Make sure you are not registered with one of the major
political parties at least four months before the general
election. Apply to the Town Clerk between August 1 and November 1.
- In many towns, Unaffiliated slots remain unfilled because
there are not enough applicants. However, if there are more applications than slots, the Town Clerk must run a lottery.
You take your chances without
having to write any letters or please anyone.
- After the lottery, replacements are
made ONLY from those names already on the Town Clerk's list. (Thus, if you
are not on that list now, you can't get on until the next election.)
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Become
a Connecticut JP