What is a JP?

Appointed by the Crown through the Governor of Victoria, a Justice of the Peace (JP) is an independent and honourable individual who provides an essential, cost-free public service. Their primary role is to ensure that legal documents are witnessed, certified or attested with authority, integrity, and impartiality.​
In 1361, King Edward III of England first granted the Justice of the Peace title, appointing "good and lawful men" to 'guard the peace'. This tradition traveled across the seas to Australia, where in 1836, the first JPs were appointed in the Port Phillip District of NSW, in 1851 this district became Victoria.
From the 19th through to the mid-20th century JPs were essential in rural areas where magistrates were scarce, often acting as the primary legal authority for local communities. Up to 1984, panels of three JPs sat on the bench to adjudicate minor court matters.
Today, modern JPs in Victoria are governed by the Honorary Justices Act 2014, and remain indispensable administrative officers, their current duties include:
  • Witnessing statutory declarations and affidavits.
  • Certifying true copies of original documents.
  • Verifying identities for official purposes.
  • Attesting to powers of attorney.
Though the gavel has been replaced by the stamp, the JP remains a vital, free link between the public and the legal system.
Historical visualisations above are by Kyle Lockwood JP assisted by Gemini on 21 MAR 2026
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Fig 1.1

JP Victoria Crest Logo

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Fig 1.2
Fig 1.1 - The JP Victoria Crest was originally developed in 2022 following a request from Honorary Justice Services Support (HJSS) for a generic JP logo. Following a 2026 design refresh, the logo is undergoing a pilot trial at two police stations in Melbourne’s West. The crest is simple, scalable, and defined by the prominently featured letters JP - the public's primary identifier for a Justice of the Peace, the crest is surmounted by a royal crown, serving as a visual reminder of the ancient historical connection between JPs and the crown. This initiative is improving public accessibility by allowing the community to instantly and clearly identify the Justice of the Peace on duty at document signing locations.
Fig 1.2 - Standardised application of the JP Crest on duty apparel. The simple high-contrast design ensures the JP is identifiable from a distance, as demonstrated in the pilot trial.