justice of the peace

noun phrase

: a local magistrate empowered chiefly to administer summary justice in minor cases, to commit for trial, and to administer oaths and perform marriages

Examples of justice of the peace in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Each court has one justice of the peace and one constable. —Jimmy Jenkins, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024

Arroyo went through the eviction process herself during the pandemic and said that experience motivated her to run for justice of the peace. —Elena Santa Cruz, The Arizona Republic, 11 Oct. 2024

Arizona's voters will help elect a president and elect a new U.S. senator, members of Congress, a new state Legislature, state utility and water regulators, county executives and supervisors, mayors, council members, school board members and justices of the peace. —Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 6 Oct. 2024

On March 15, 2024, the Johnson County Election Commission certified Jeremy Hatchet was the Republican nominee at the primary election for justice of the peace in District 5. —Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 15 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

justice of the peace

: a local official having the authority to try minor cases, to administer oaths, and to perform marriages

Legal Definition

justice of the peace

: a local judicial official who is empowered chiefly to administer oaths, perform marriage ceremonies, certify documents, and in some states may have additional judicial powers (as to issue summonses)