You should understand that these officers are commissioned or elected to office by the political party that is governing. They are thus appointed by the governor of a particular state. The roles and responsibilities of a JP can thus vary greatly from one state to the other. For instance, some states do not have provisions for JPs. Instead, the roles of this official are redistributed to the other officials of the state.
A degree in law is not mandatory for any person aspiring to become a JP. However, some states require the aspirants to have alternative training in law-related subjects for them to qualify. The people that have obtained a degree in legal studies, American history, political science and criminal justice will however have better chances. Therefore, it is good to have some training for you to qualify and become a commissioned JP.
Therefore, unlike most local and statutory judges, JPs do not need to be degree holders in law. This training can however be beneficial and is mandatory in most states. There are thus no formal education requirements for people who want to become JPs. Nevertheless, those with formal education find an easy time looking for jobs.
If you have a degree in the critical fields, or you have completed the recommended training, you can now seek for appointment. Some states usually allocate these professionals depending on the total political party numbers or members holding the offices of the state. In these states, the applicants must be elected by the major political body. These are the main regulations that these states have.
Other states such as Massachusetts, the JP is normally elected by the governor. Hence, the applicant has to follow the required steps for him/her to be elected. The aspirant should thus obtain an application form from the governors or state secretary office. This application form is mandatory to all the applicants that are interested in the JP position.
The main things that the form needs are the general information about the applicant like gender, age, residence, etc. Also, the applicant should fill their criminal record. There are states that require prominent people in the community to sign and recommend the applicant while other states do not have this requirement.
Once the candidate has been elected, the last step is filing an oath of office. In most cases, the JP appointee has to appear at a scheduled time and place to take the oath of office. In some states, the appointee can take and file an oath of office at the designated office within the specified days.
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