<P> A justice of the peace ( JP ) is a judicial officer , of a lower or puisne court , elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent ) to keep the peace . In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the same meaning . Depending on the jurisdiction , such justices dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions . Justices of the peace are appointed or elected from the citizens of the jurisdiction in which they serve , and are ( or were ) usually not required to have any formal legal education in order to qualify for the office . Some jurisdictions have varying forms of training for JPs . </P>
what is the job of justice of the peace
a judicial officer , of a lower or puisne court , elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent ) to keep the peace .