Litchfield enquirer., 1851-07-31
CHATTER XXXIV.

CHATTER XXXIV.
An act relating to Justices ofthe Peace.
Be it enacted by the Senate aud House
of Representatives in General Assembly
! convened.
! Sec. l. That the electors in tho several
! towns qualified to vote for representatives
therein, shall AT the electors meeting on
the first Monday of April, annually, elect by
ballot, from the electors of such towns re-
sPec,ively, number of justices of the
peace, equal to the number Of jurymen pre-
scribed, or WHICH may be prescribed by
law for such towns, which justices of the
peace shall hold their offices for the period
OF two years, commencing on the fourth
day of July next succeeding their election,
and shall have all the powers, and be subs
ject to all the duties now prescribed, or
which may hereafter be prescribed by law,
for justices of the peace; provided that the
inhabitants of any town, may, at a town
meeting specially called for that purpose,
determine and fix less number ofjustices
of the peace to be elected in such town,
which shall thereafter be and remain the
number of the justices Of the peace to which
such town is entitled, until such number
shall be again OF from time to time, increas-
ed or diminished by such town within the
the limit aforesaid.
Set. 2. At such electors meeting, a sep
arate ballot box shall be provided by the
selectmen, for the reception of votes for
justices of the peace, which box shall re-
main open for that purpose, from the open
ing of the meeting till S O'Clock in the after
noon, at which time it shall be closed; and
each electOr entitled to vote for justices OF
the peace. may deposit therein one piece
of paper with any number of names writ
ten or printed thereon, not exceeding the
number of justices of the peace 10 be elect
ed.
Sec. 3. The presiding officer, assisted
by the town clerk and selectmen. shall, at
such meeting, and before the adjournment
thereof. count the votes given for justices of
the peace; aud those persons, not exceed
ing the number prescribed, having the highs
est number OF votes, shall be, and shall be
declared by such presiding officer, to De
elected.
Sec. 4. The town clerk of each town
shall make a record of the justices Of the
peace elected in such town, and within ten
days after such election, shall transmit, by
mail, TO the secretary of state, II certified re-
turn of the justices Of the peace, elected 10
such town; and any town clerk neglecting
to make such return, shall forfeit and pay
the sum of twenty dollars to the treasurer
Of the state. And it shall be the duty of
the secretary of state, to make list of the
justices, returned from the severol towns,
and lay them before the General Assembly
at the next ensuing regular session thereof
and before the 18th day of May, annually,
which list shall be revised by the General
ASSEMBLY, who shall decide ultimately On
all questions which may arise in regard to
such elections ofJustices of the peace.
Sec. 5. After the revisal of the list of
justices Of the peace, by the General Assem-
bly,. and before the 18th day of June, annu-
ally, the secretary OF state shall transmit to
the clerks of the county court in the sever
a. counties, list of the justices of the peace
ee tted in such counties respectively and
it any correction or alterstlQn shall be
made in the list Of justices returned from
any Town, shall. in like manner, transmit to
the clerk of such town, notice Of such cor
rection or alteration, who shall amend his
ecord accordingly. And the secretary of
strife may certify to the official character OF
justices of the peace, and the clerks of the
county courts and town clerks may likewise
certify, in respect to justices Of the peace
in their respective counties and towns.
Sec. 6. Justices Of the peace elected in
the several towns on the first Monday OF
April 1851, shall hold their Offices for one
year, commencing,on the fourth day Of July
1851 provided, that all official acts done
by any person SO elected since the said first
Monday Of April, and before the passage OF
this act are confirmed and declared to be
valid, in the same manner as if such persons
had been appointed justices of the peace in
their respective counties, by the General
Assembly at it's last session.
Sec. Z. So much of the act relating to the
election of justices of the peace, approved
June 22d, 1850, and entitled An act in ad-
dition to aGact relating to Courts" as is in-
consistent herewith, is hereby repealed.
Approved, July 1st 1851.