Justice of the Peace

Rich Carlson

Susannah Loffredo

Lindsey MacCuaig

Betsy Reddy

Jim Reddy

Ann Singiser

Al Wakefield

GENERAL DUTIES

The duties of justices of the peace can fall into five categories

of responsibilities:

a) Justices of the peace are members of the

board of civil authority (BCA). Members of the BCA

serve as election officials at town elections by Australian

ballot and statewide elections. Justices also are responsible

for delivering absentee ballots to voters at election

time. (Mandatory)

b) Tax Abatement and Appeals. Justices of the peace sit

as members of the town board for abatement of taxes to

determine whether a taxpayer’s tax obligation should be

forgiven under certain circumstances. Justices of the

peace also serve an important role in the town’s tax appeal

process. As a member of the board of civil authority,

justices sit to hear and decide appeals when citizens

do not agree with the final decision of the listers. (Mandatory)

c) Justices of the peace may also solemnize

marriages in Vermont.(Discretionary)

d) Oaths and Notary. Justices of the peace may also administer

oaths in all cases where an oath is required,

unless a specific law makes a different provision. A justice

of the peace is a notary public ex officio and has all

the acknowledgment powers of a notary public. However,

the justice of the peace must file with the county clerk in

order to act as a notary public (but the fee is waived).(Discretionary)

e) Justices of the peace may also serve as a

magistrate when so commissioned by the Supreme

Court. (Discretionary)