Justice of the Peace
Newsletter
Vol. 7 Issue 3
June 2009
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In This
Issue: |
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New Certificate Styles on
jpUS.org
All Styles
Available for Marriage, Civil
Union and Vow Renewals |
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JPs and The Economy "I personally have not been terribly impacted by the economy. I am sensing that couples are more likely to hire a JP rather than to pay for all the pomp and circumstance of a formal wedding." Linda Maxwell, Haverhill, MA "Since January, numerous couples have called who were eloping. With people being laid off from work, these couples marry quietly to get added to the spouse's health insurance. Some have planned large weddings in the future, which I'll do. Others need to postpone the large wedding until they can afford one." "I will officiate the ceremony for any U.S. service person on active duty free of charge. I feel fulfilled after doing this for them." Barbara Kahn, Malden, MA Quick Survey: Do you offer this courtesy to active duty military? ; Condolences to CT JP Don Burr Condolences to Don Burr, Norwalk CT JP, whose brother, John R. Burr, 50, was killed in a hit-and-run highway accident on March 10. The victim was trying to retrieve items that fell out of the back of his pickup truck. The driver was apprehended two days later and charged with evading responsibility and driving without a license. FYI ... New Massachusetts Rules from Barbara Kahn, Malden, MA JP
... CT law permits marriages by clergy as long as they work in the ministry. Mary Pugh wants CT to get tough on Internet or mail-order ministers who don't. The Universal Life Church, e.g., requires its ministers to have neither religious training nor a congregation. According to Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, only the Connecticut General Assembly may further define or limit the authority of clergy to officiate at weddings. Mary asks that CT JPs ask their state legislators to tighten the law to require proof of “active ministering" for officiants. When you Move, do you take your JP Hat with you?  "Not in CT. When my husband and I decided to go house
shopping, I realized I'd have to reapply for my license
in a new city. I didn't want to lose 3 years...so we
stayed in Bristol."
Cami Rosenberg-Dews, Bristol "Most JPs in Connecticut are picked by political parties. The job is given to party loyalists. And the parties are going to give that away so some outsider can make a few bucks? Get real." Walter B. Tucker Jr., Hamden JP |
The Amazing Spring of Marriage Equality It's been an exhilarating few months for proponents of same sex marriage. In April, Iowa and Vermont (effective September) became the third and fourth states to legalize gay marriage, following MA (2004) and CT (2008). Then on May 6, Maine Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill allowing gay marriage in that state. The law will take effect in mid-September and is the first not to be spurred by a prior court ruling. A month later, on June 3, New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch fulfilled his pledge to sign a bill similar to Maine's if officiants whose religion forbade gay marriage were protected. That law takes effect Jan. 1, 2010. Also in May, Connecticut passed a law redefining marriage as the legal union of two people (rather than of a man and a woman, the previous definition), in conformance with the state Supreme Court's landmark ruling last fall. The law will also end civil unions on Oct. 1, 2010, when all existing civil unions will become marriages unless they have been annulled or dissolved. This leaves Rhode Island as the only New England state not permitting marriage between same sex couples. JPs are active in three of the six "marriage equality" states: MA, CT, VT and NH. (Do you think there's a connection?) Neither Maine nor Iowa has JPs. Maine used to, but the role was merged with that of Notary Public in the 1980s. Today Maine notaries as well as lawyers can perform marriages. And here's an unusual circumstance: RI has JPs but they may not perform marriages! Six months after voters approved Proposition 8 and put a stop to same sex marriages in California, the state Supreme Court left the ban in place in their ruling on May 26. The Court declared, however, that the (approximately 18,000) marriages that had taken place before the ban would hold. New York and New Jersey are also considering same sex marriage bills. JPs on Video Bristol CT JP Laura Minor talks about marrying gay couples on YouTube. The interview was conducted by Love Makes a Family, the CT gay rights organization, which plans to close at the end of the year as its goal of marriage equality in the state has been achieved. Enfield CT JP Sal Fiore married Nick and Ginger Hearn on Style Network’s reality show, “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?” The event took place last Dec. 20 and aired on June 2. Soon members of jpUS will be able to showcase clips of ceremonies they've performed on the findaJP Photo Gallery. Stay tuned. Using the Web for JP Business
Q: Does the web help your business? A: "Yes, I designed my own site. I feel having the information out there saves everyone time. People can see a side of me by the way I "decorated" my site. I feel it has been a huge improvement for business." Cami Rosenberg-Dews, Bristol CT Q: What about networking websites? A: Thanks to Jodi Paris Anastos, Salem MA, for setting up the Justice of the Peace Association group on linkedin.com and gamely trying to drum up interest. Write to Jodi to learn more. Q: How can the Justice of the Peace Association help members attract business? A: "I'd like jpUS to give a hand to changing the policy (it's not a LAW) wherein the CT town clerk records on the license the town in which the couple will marry." Walter B. Tucker Jr., Hamden CT. Ed Note: We contacted Beth Frugale of DPH who promised to follow up when the current legislative session ends. See the JP Forum for more on this topic. |
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Health Insurance Heats Up in Connecticut While the Obama administration promises to address the health care crisis this year, some states are pursuing their own initiatives rather than wait. On May 31, two controversial health care bills made it through the Connecticut legislature. The CT Healthcare Partnership would allow municipalities, small businesses and nonprofit organizations to join the state employees' health care pool. This is the plan that, if adopted, we hoped to offer to JP Association members. The second bill, SustiNet, would allow anyone in the state to join the state employees' pool, regardless of pre-existing conditions. It's now up to Gov. Rell, who vetoed similar bills last year. If you are a JP but not featured on findaJP.com, consider joining the Justice of the Peace Association LLC. |
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