Court Officers and Justices of the Peace

Nature of work

Court officers coordinate the administrative and procedural functions of federal and provincial courts like scheduling trials and overseeing the maintenance of court records. Justices of the peace administer oaths, issue subpoenas, summonses and warrants and perform other court-related duties like conducting bail hearings and performing civil marriages. They work for federal and provincial courts.

Job duties

Court officers:

• Coordinate administrative services and establish work priorities for court staff.
• Schedule court trials and arrange pre-trial conferences and hearings.
• Call courts to order, read charges and take pleas from defendants.
• Record court start time, trial proceedings and judgements.
• Collect and record sheriff fees, transcription fees and other court administrative and services fees.
• Oversee the maintenance of judicial court records.
• Help in preparing annual budgets.
• May be justices of the peace.

Justices of the peace:

• Issue subpoenas, summonses and warrants, including search warrants.
• Receive affidavits, declarations and affirmations.
• Administer oaths.
• Conduct bail hearings.
• Release defendants on judges' orders and explain rights and obligations.
• Hear evidence at trials on summary conviction offences and may preside over trials of criminal offences at the discretion of the chief judge of the jurisdiction or as provided for in federal, provincial or territorial statutes.
• Perform civil marriages.

Sample job titles

• citizenship judge
• clerk of the court
• courtroom officer
• district court registrar
• family court administrator
• justice of the peace
• registrar of deeds
• small claims court registrar
• trial coordinator

Skills

• Good observational and analytical skills are necessary. You must be accurate and able to pay close attention to detail. Honesty and integrity are important. You also need good communication skills and an ability to work well with others.

Job requirements

• A university degree in law, business or public administration or a college diploma in public administration or legal studies.
• A justice registrar, justice of the peace or other court training program is required for court officers and justices of the peace.
• Justices of the peace in the provinces are appointed by the lieutenant governor in council and, in the territories, by federally appointed territorial commissioners.

Other considerations

• There are no significant seasonal patterns of unemployment in these jobs and people tend to work for the full year. Several years of experience as a court clerk or in another court service occupation are usually required. The duties and responsibilities of justices of the peace vary significantly depending on the level of their authority. They work part-time on a fee-for-service basis in small communities. Movement to senior positions like senior court administrator is possible through experience.

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