Justice of the Peace Association
Newsletter
Autumn 2008
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In This
Issue:
From the States |
Elect a President, Bring in the JPs
(in Connecticut and Vermont)
If it's a Presidential election year, it's also a year for Justices of the Peace to be appointed (in Connecticut) or elected (in Vermont). In CT, JPs are appointed for 4-year terms. In VT, JPs must renew every two years.
In Vermont, it's all over but the voting. The political parties chose their candidates more than a month ago and the application deadline for independents has also passed. Now it's up to the voters on Election Day.
In Connecticut, only the politically unaffiliated can still choose to become a JP. Applications can be filed with the Town Clerk until November 1. If the number of applicants for the unaffiliated slots in a town exceeds the number of JPs allowed by state statute, a public lottery must be held.
Whether you will be entering your first or fifth term as a JP, you are invited to take advantage of pre-2009 rates for membership in www.jpUS.org. These rates ($50 for one year, discounts for the full JP term) will increase on January 1, 2009. Connecticut Renewal Forms and Vermont Renewal Forms may be filled out online starting now.
Because other states permit Justices of the Peace to assume office throughout the year, the same discounted rates will be offered to current members when their jpUS term is up. When you're ready, here's the Renewal Form for members in other states.
New JPs (or any JP who wants to learn more) can read about membership and click on the New Member form for CT JPs or for VT JPs or for other states. JPs who do not assume office until early 2009 (the JP term begins on Jan. 5 in CT and on Feb. 1 in VT) may want to join jpUS now so that couples planning their spring weddings will find them on findaJP.com. (Listings will display commission effective date. No extra charge for early listings.)
Attend a CT JP Conference
Three regional morning meetings (breakfast included) will be held for CT JPs this autumn, repeating a format that worked well last year. New JPs -- those taking office in the new year -- are especially invited to attend one of the sessions and get a running start at being a JP. Here are the dates and locations. Sign up online at jpus.org/conferenceregister.htm. Write to us for detailed program information.
If it's a Presidential election year, it's also a year for Justices of the Peace to be appointed (in Connecticut) or elected (in Vermont). In CT, JPs are appointed for 4-year terms. In VT, JPs must renew every two years.
In Vermont, it's all over but the voting. The political parties chose their candidates more than a month ago and the application deadline for independents has also passed. Now it's up to the voters on Election Day.
In Connecticut, only the politically unaffiliated can still choose to become a JP. Applications can be filed with the Town Clerk until November 1. If the number of applicants for the unaffiliated slots in a town exceeds the number of JPs allowed by state statute, a public lottery must be held.
Whether you will be entering your first or fifth term as a JP, you are invited to take advantage of pre-2009 rates for membership in www.jpUS.org. These rates ($50 for one year, discounts for the full JP term) will increase on January 1, 2009. Connecticut Renewal Forms and Vermont Renewal Forms may be filled out online starting now.
Because other states permit Justices of the Peace to assume office throughout the year, the same discounted rates will be offered to current members when their jpUS term is up. When you're ready, here's the Renewal Form for members in other states.
New JPs (or any JP who wants to learn more) can read about membership and click on the New Member form for CT JPs or for VT JPs or for other states. JPs who do not assume office until early 2009 (the JP term begins on Jan. 5 in CT and on Feb. 1 in VT) may want to join jpUS now so that couples planning their spring weddings will find them on findaJP.com. (Listings will display commission effective date. No extra charge for early listings.)
Attend a CT JP Conference
Three regional morning meetings (breakfast included) will be held for CT JPs this autumn, repeating a format that worked well last year. New JPs -- those taking office in the new year -- are especially invited to attend one of the sessions and get a running start at being a JP. Here are the dates and locations. Sign up online at jpus.org/conferenceregister.htm. Write to us for detailed program information.
| Cost | |||
| Date | Location | Member | Non-Member |
| Saturday, Oct. 25 | Durham CT | $30 | $35 |
| Saturday, Nov. 8 | Bristol CT | $30 | $35 |
| Saturday, Nov. 15 | Norwalk CT | $45 | $50 |
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State News In Massachusetts: The Mass. State Senate approved in July a long-stalled bill that would increase by $25 the fees JPs may charge for weddings. If it becomes law, JPs could charge $100 for local ceremonies and $150 for ceremonies outside their home community. Now it's up to the State House! A 1913 law that blocked out-of-state couples from marrying in Massachusetts if their home states would not recognize the union was repealed on July 31. The state, which had ignored the law for decades, started enforcing it after same-sex marriage became legal in 2004. Its repeal is estimated to bring 30,000 out-of-state couples to MA in the next three years, generating $111 million in business. MA business got a boost when New York joined Rhode Island and New Mexico in recognizing gay marriages that are performed in other jurisdictions. Although NY does not itself permit marriages between same-sex couples, Gov. David A. Paterson directed state agencies to honor such unions when performed legally elsewhere. On the Ballot: Amendments that would define marriage as between one man and one woman will be on the ballot on November 4 in Arizona, California and Florida. (Unless the California measure passes, California is the only state besides Massachusetts that now allows marriage between gay couples.) Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Vermont offer civil unions. Louisiana JP Joins jpUS: Cynthia A. Machen is the first JP from Louisiana to stumble upon www.findajp.com and decide that she belonged there. "I was curious about how people found JPs and your website popped up. It looked interesting so I wanted to join." A three-term JP, she has 6 children and 5 grandchildren. "Lots of Mississippi couples come to get married here," she explains, "because of the strict laws in their state. Hopefully your website will help some people find me." Welcome, Cynthia! |
Beware of Scams Mary Pugh, Norwalk CT JP, warns JPs to be on the lookout for proposals that are too good to be true, often from abroad. "They send a certified check and ask the JP to pay the photographer and others with the money. When the check bounces, the JP is out the money." Here's an example: "How do you do? I have a wedding on the 27th December and i will need the service of wedding vendors like DJ PHOTOGRAPHY, WEDDING PLANNER, MAKE UP ARTIST AND MANY MORE. I have a budget of $65,000. Will you be able to help me plan it? As I am offshore in Manchester City, UK I need you to help me...." Mary says: "Tell-tale sign it is a scam: They want you to send money to someone!"
Have other JPs received such inquiries?
Share Your Experience
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Letters From the last Justice of the Peace in South Carolina "Sad to say, we have had 6 funerals at sea, all military kids who died in the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts. Much to my regret, this form of funeral is becoming popular because the free service the Navy offers will not allow the family to go to sea for the service. If this continues, it won't be long until I will be burying one soldier/sailor for every one I marry. I cannot express how this tears my heart apart. If you read the letters from these families and saw how important it was for them to be present during the service, you would see how I cannot stop just to retire for selfish reasons. If it were not for the joy of the weddings we do to off-set the sadness of the funerals, I would not be able to carry on. My one nightmare is that I will perform a military wedding today, and bury at sea that same person not far down the road.
During weddings at sea, we often stop the boat for a while so the wedding party can swim. As I stand on the bridge, watching them laugh and have the time of their lives, I cannot help but worry about these kids. I forbade my six daughters from joining the military (not that they ever heeded my words). I did so only because I feel I paid dues enough for all of us. The last conflict I fought in was the first Gulf War. I will walk with a limp and sleep troubled sleep for the rest of my life from my years in the Navy. It's hard enough to watch other people's kids go to war." David N. Marsh, Charleston |
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