Justices of the Peace mark 50 fabulous years

Last published on 22 Oct 2019 

A ceremony today at Parliament House has celebrated more than 130 Justices of the Peace who have been serving the community since man first walked on the Moon.

Attorney General Mark Speakman said they are among 260 people statewide to receive commemorative certificates after notching up their 50^th year of service.

“Becoming a Justice of the Peace (JP) might have been one small step for these volunteers, but it was a giant leap for the NSW community that’s benefited from their support over the past five decades,” Me Speakman said.

“Between them, they have clocked up 13,000 years of service as JPs, helping people at pivotal points in their lives such as buying and selling property, applying for a passport or accessing superannuation.

“Today’s event is an opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of JPs across the state who have donated countless hours of their time supporting the efficient operation of our legal system.”

Any JP who has marked their Golden Jubilee of service but is unable to attend the ceremony will have their certificate mailed to them by their local MP.

More than 2,300 JPs have achieved the half-century milestone since the NSW Government introduced the commemorative certificates in 2012.

A JP’s primary function is to serve as an independent witness for people making statutory declarations or affidavits and to certify copies of original documents.

Improvements to the online register of JPs introduced this year make finding assistance faster and easier.

New features include information on what days and times JPs are available and which languages they speak.

People can search for a JP in their area by visiting the register at: www.jp.nsw.gov.au.

Download Media Release: Justices of the Peace mark 50 fabulous years (PDF , 153.6 KB)