Justice of the Peace Court

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 are an integral part of the courts system, and 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 36 active Justices of the Peace in the Northwest Territories, of whom 29 live and work in communities outside of Yellowknife - native northerners who are able to conduct proceedings in the language of the particular community in which they serve.