justice of the peace

noun phrase

: a local magistrate empowered chiefly to administer summary justice in minor cases, to commit for trial, and to administer oaths and perform marriages

Examples of justice of the peace in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Enslavers or their agents needed little evidence to get Ohio judges or local justices of the peace to order people who were alleged to have escaped from slavery arrested. —Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025

The Quorum Court's Finance and Budget Committee voted against a non-binding resolution to have a fiscal impact study done on the project, with eight of the 13 justices of the peace voting against it. —Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025

And King tied Angela Medlin, the woman who had confronted Marty Baker during the cattle-rustling arrests, in the race for justice of the peace. —Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025

Three dogs seized from a Tarrant County property near Eagle Mountain Lake on suspicion of killing an 82-year-old man working in his yard have been returned to their owner following a hearing before a justice of the peace Friday. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for justice of the peace

• altarpiece
• centerpiece
• frontispiece
• mantelpiece
• masterpiece
• pilates
• summarise
• syntheses
• apiece
• aris
• assise
• caprice

Kids Definition

justice of the peace

: a local official having the authority to try minor cases, to administer oaths, and to perform marriages

Legal Definition

justice of the peace

: a local judicial official who is empowered chiefly to administer oaths, perform marriage ceremonies, certify documents, and in some states may have additional judicial powers (as to issue summonses)