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Justices of the Peace are lay people,
working and living in the community where
they sit, performing a variety of judicial
and quasi-judicial functions. Justices of
the Peace carry out these duties on a
part-time basis. They generally preside over
summary conviction matters arising out of
territorial statutes, municipal by-laws, and
selected criminal matters. They regularly
conduct bail hearings. They issue warrants
and summonses. They also carry out
various public functions such as conducting
marriage ceremonies.
Justices of the Peace are appointed by the
Commissioner of the Northwest Territories,
in Executive-Council, and serve indefinite
terms until they resign or reach the age of
75. A Justice of the Peace can only be
removed from office after a hearing by a
Review Council established under the
Justices of the Peace Act (NWT). The Chief
Judge of the Territorial Court has over-all
supervisory power over Justices of the
Peace. The Chief Judge issues a "Letter of
Authorization" to each Justice of the Peace
setting out the powers and duties of a
Justice of the Peace. There is an on-going
training and education programme for Justices
of the Peace.
There are currently 52 active Justices of
the Peace in the Northwest Territories, of
whom 44 live and work in communities outside
of Yellowknife. A significant number of the
Justices of the Peace are native northerners
who are able to conduct proceedings in the
language of the particular community in
which they serve.
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