Evolution of the Institution of Justices of the Peace in the United States

Ewa Gmurzyńska

Abstract


This article presents a history and development of the institution of justices of the peace in the United States from the beginning of formation of American democracy until modern times. It presents jurisdiction, the scope of the activities and the role of justices of the peace in several states through different periods of times. It includes a thorough discussion concerning pros and cons of justices of the peace in the U.S. legal system and general tendency of declining the institution of justices of the peace in modern times. The article includes also a discussion of the major court decisions concerning justices of the peace.


Keywords


justices of the peace; American democracy; American justice

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/sil.2019.28.1.39-68
Date of publication: 2019-10-08 15:09:20
Date of submission: 2019-06-23 16:33:02


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