Source: wikiHow
Co-authored by wikiHow Staff |18 References
In this Article:Meeting the Basic RequirementsExpanding Your Knowledge of the LawApplying for the PositionCommunity Q&A18 References
A justice of the peace is a low-level judicial officer who is endowed with the authority to perform a variety of minor legal tasks.
In most places, becoming a justice of the peace is a surprisingly simple process. To qualify for the position, show proof that you’re a resident of the state or territory you plan to work in and gain at least a basic knowledge of civil law. Once that’s done, submit a formal application for the position and wait to be approved by a committee.- 1 Provide proof of residency in the state or territory you want to work in. In order to be eligible to serve as a justice of the peace, you’ll need to be able to show that you’re a legal citizen where you live. The exact procedure for doing so varies from place to place. Contact your local state department office to find out more about the specific requirements for your region.[1]
- Proving residency is often as simple as filling out a few forms and producing documents that show that you’ve lived in the area for a specific amount of time.
- In Texas, for instance, you must have lived in the state on a full-time basis for at least one year to be granted residency and therefore be eligible to become a justice of the peace.[2]
- Rhode Island is the one exception to this rule in the U.S. In Rhode Island, non-residents who regularly conduct business in the state can apply to become justices of the peace. [3]
- 2 Request a background check from your local police department. Head down to police headquarters and talk to a high-ranking officer about conducting a background check. As long as the investigation doesn’t turn up anything incriminating, the department will generate a document verifying that you have no past criminal charges, which…
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