Justice of the Peace
Newsletter

Spring 2007

Our proposal in the last issue of the JP Newsletter garnered many comments and suggestions from members as well as non-members. Everyone who wrote applauded the concept and would subscribe to its tenets. We toned down the ceremonial emphasis in our original proposal in deference to the varied duties performed by JPs in our member states. (For instance, JPs sit on tax assessment appeals in VT, run courts in TX, etc.) We added a clause about adhering to state statute governing fees as some states (e.g., MA) dictate fees that JPs may charge. We incorporated the best of your suggestions and are confident that the revised code is far better as a result. We thank you for making this Code of Ethics a joint endeavor by our community of JPs.

Some selected comments:
"I think a Code of Ethics for JPs is an EXCELLENT idea. Municipal employees in our town follow one, why shouldn't the JPs?"  Rachel Lamb, Asst. Town Clerk, Salisbury, CT
"I thought we already utilized these in our everyday life! Have I been missing something?" Dan Blackstone, Stonington, CT
"In today's climate ... the public needs to trust again. A Code of Ethics is a tool at our disposal." Kathy Bach, Tolland, CT
 

Two items we didn't include warrant mention.
             A couple of people suggested including a clause requiring members to stay up-to-date on the duties of their office by attending an educational workshop or conference annually. Right now, only Texas (where Justices of the Peace are paid officers of the court) requires JPs to get regular training. Seminars are offered in Conn. (by jpUS) and in Mass. (by the Massachusetts Justice of the Peace Association -- MJPA); they are not mandatory. Other states offer nothing, not even basic training for new JPs. Until we can offer training for all members, the requirement is not feasible.
            We haven't as yet addressed the question of enforcement of the code of ethics. JPs who are members of MJPA have some experience with this problem. Maria Taylor, Abington MA, noted: "A code of ethics can’t really be enforced other than by a slap on the wrist." Richard Authier, Springfield MA, says that when the MJPA receives a complaint about a member, "the association investigates, contacts the one who is broaching, and if all attempts fail, the JP is banned from the Association.

Bottom Line: We plan to add the Code of Ethics to the jpUS Membership Form and ask new members to agree expressly with its standards. If you are a current member, please let us know if you object to any statement in the Code or feel you cannot abide by it. Otherwise, we will assume that all jpUS members ascribe to the Code of Ethics and will state that fact on findaJP.com.

Bill Would Ban Phone, Web Wedding Ceremonies Lawmakers Seek To Close Loophole In State Law HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - May 24, 2007 State lawmakers want to close a legal loophole that technically allows clergy members and justices of the peace to perform weddings and civil unions over the telephone and Internet.         "Closing this loophole makes sense," said Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, whose office oversees the selection of justices of the peace. "The opportunity clearly exists for fraud and I am confident this change will help prevent people from falling victim to fraudulent practices."         A bill to close the loophole has passed the House and Senate and now goes to Gov. M. Jodi Rell. A spokesman said Rell has not taken a position and will review the bill when it gets to her office.         The bill would require marriage and civil union ceremonies to be conducted in the physical presence of a clergy member, justice of the peace or other authorized person.          Barbara Jay, vice president of the Westport-based Justice of the Peace Association, said that makes sense.          "As fast as technology keeps changing, some tradition ought to remain," Jay said. "One is that the officiant and the couple should be together, in the same physical space."        Let us know if you have another opinion about this!   A Good Day for a Wedding   Janice Favreau, South Windsor, CT, has  three weddings booked, the first one at 7 a.m. And Everett G. Shepard III, Woodstock CT, will perform two weddings, at 11 a.m in Putnam and at 3 p.m. in Thompson CT.  We know there are lots more of you doing weddings that day. May the sun shine on all the lucky couples!   East Hartford CT Couple Marries Alongside Reenactment JP Donald Pitkin of East Hartford CT will publicly marry a local couple on June 10 during the East Hartford Historical Society's Open House History Day. The ceremony will be a reenactment of the 1661 wedding of William Pitkin and Hannah Goodwin, East Hartford's most famous colonial couple, and the ancestors of the Justice of the Peace. The wedding party will dress in the costumes of that era. The public is invited to the reception at at Martin Park from 1 to 4.

Reflections on performing a marriage by Saul Haffner Granted. All weddings are special.  But some weddings are extra special. Recently, I officiated at one of these. Let me share with you what made it so. The wedding party.  Actually, there was no “wedding party” as that term is usually thought of. No bridesmaids. No best man. No family. No flower girl. No ring bearer. It was just the three of us -- the  bride, the groom, and me. There were no witnesses until some random passers-by stopped to watch, listen, and applaud when I said “You may kiss the bride.”  The venue. Everyone agrees that where the service takes place is as important as the service itself. Some couples will spend thousands to locate the right spot. Our spot was free! It was a secluded corner of a public beach. The blue waters of Long Island Sound formed a beautiful backdrop to the tan sand on which we stood. The time was early evening and the sun had just begun to set. The couple. He was 42, she 38 -- adults who really knew what they wanted. Sure, they’d been living together for a while and “just knew it was time to get married.” And it wasn’t that they couldn’t afford better. He’s an investment banker with a well-known international firm. Their family? I didn’t ask. When the service was over, and the applause ended, we all  beamed. Once more, I knew that becoming a JP was one of the best decisions I ever made.    For the next newsletter, briefly recount a wedding that reminded you why you love being a JP . New York Gay Marriage Update Will New York become the second state to legitimize marriage between gay couples? Gov. Spitzer is for it, but neither political party in the NY legislature seems ready to support his bill.          Meanwhile, the NY State Department of Civil Service declared that it would extend spousal benefits guaranteed under the NY State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) to same-sex couples who are legally married (in other states or countries) and who are state government employees. The significance of the decision lies in the number of couples likely affected. NYSHIP is the second-largest public employer health insurance program in the nation, covering more than 1.1 million state and local government employees, retirees and their families. News Flash: Civil Union Law Signed in New Hampshire On May 31, New Hampshire Governor John Lynch signed the law that will legalize civil unions for gay couples starting January 1. NH joins CT, VT and NJ with similar laws.  Only Massachusetts permits same-sex marriage.

Are you listed on findaJP.com? Join www.jpUS.org.  Further your JP career and support the JP Association. Click here.

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Please let us know if you prefer not to receive this Newsletter and we'll take you off the list. Also let us know if you are receiving more than one . We welcome your feedback on any topic and appreciate news or features of interest to JPs. Please send your suggestions, comments and submissions to newsletter@jpus.org 
Saul Haffner  saulhaffner@jpus.org