Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-05-26
The Public
Safety ValOe
History OF jay Pea" System.

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Editor Times-Recorder:
Much has been said during the last
few years, and much remains to be
said and written concerning justice
courts in Georgia. The justices of the
peace and their bailifs in this state
have seen charged, variously, with ev-
cry crime in the decalogue, from petty
larceny to feIonies, and thus far, no
. enc has raised a voice in defense of the
system. To this would be considered
/ ty many persons as humorous.
! Writers in many newspapers in
Georgia, in recent years, have boldly
charged that justice courts are used
solely to rob the poor and Cypress the
{ ignorant, In one of these articles,
which is especially condemnatory, the
| assertion is made that the Ancient
and honorable title of j. P, is now
construed to mean Just Pay, or
Judgement for the Bailiff'." Such a
statement may be true as concerns
justice courts in the large cities Of
+ the state, but it is a malicious false
hood when applied to the hundreds of
UPRIGHT and honorable citizens Of
= Georgia, who hold Office as justices of
the peace in the several communities.
1t is an indisputable fact that the ma
jority of men who hold these offices
throughout the state, are the most
intelligent and upright citizens of their
respective communities, and do not
hold the Office for revenue derived
| therefrom.
Much criticism of justice courts was
occasioned by reason of the fact that
certain interests in various cities de-
sired the establishment of another
court to take the place of the justice
courts, with broader jurisdiction, pre-
sided over by lawyers. This change
has been effected and is proving very
successful, for it was needed in the
cities, but the great majority of the
justices of the peace in Georgia do not
derive enough revenue from their Of
flee to pay for the necessary forms
/ that must be used in the administra-
ton of the court.
The justice court is one of the old
est institutions known to common law,
and under the old English law, these
offices were filled by the noblest and
best citizens of the various sections.
This rule, to a great, extent, has been
followed to this day. In "Blackstone's
Commentary" the great law-giver of
England, says concerning the justice
Of the peace, and his office: "The COM
mon law ever had a special care and
I regard for the consideration of the
peace, for the peace is the very foun-
dation of society. Queen Isabel, wife
CT Edward H., contriyed to dethrone
her husband by forced resignation of
the crown, and put one of her sons,
! Edward Ill, in his place. This was
thing then without example in Eng
land. 1t was fraud and would alarm
the people, especially as the old king
was still living; therefore uprisings
and other disturbances of the peace
occurred. The new king sent writs
to all the sheriffs in England, giving
a plausible account of the manner Of
his obtaining the crown, and in a few
weeks after this it was ordained in
parliament, that for better maintain
ing and keeping the peace in every
county good men and lawful, which
we're not maintainers of evil, or
barristers in the country should be