Justices of the Peace
Justices of the Peace
Justices of the Peace (JPs) are elected local officials who serve important roles in town government. While they are commonly known for officiating weddings, their primary responsibilities involve supporting elections and assisting with certain tax and property matters.
Justices of the Peace serve two-year terms and are elected during the November general elections in even-numbered years.
Candidate Information:
Justice of the Peace (Major or Minor Party)
Major and minor party justice of the peace candidates are nominated by town caucus or town party committee in order to be placed on the ballot in the General Election (November 3, 2026). The caucus must be held on or before Monday, July 20, 2026 (the 3rd Monday in July before the Primary Election). If a town fails to hold a caucus, nominations may be made thereafter by party committee. In either case, the committee chair or secretary must file the statement of nomination with the town clerk no later than 5 p.m. Monday, July 27, 2026 (the 4th Monday in July before the Primary Election). No financial disclosure or consent of candidate form is required for justice of the peace nominations.
Justices of the Peace (Independent)
Independent justice of the peace candidates file a consent of candidate form with the town clerk in order to be placed on the ballot in the general election (November 3, 2026). These consent forms must be filed no sooner than Monday, April 27, 2026 and no later than 5 p.m. Monday, July 20, 2026 (the 3rd Monday in July before the Primary Election).
Duties of a Justice of the Peace
Justices of the Peace are members of the Board of Civil Authority (BCA). Their responsibilities include:
- Assisting with polling place operations on Election Day
- Maintaining the town voter checklist
- Delivering absentee ballots to voters who are ill or physically disabled
Property Tax Appeals
If a resident disagrees with the final property valuation set by the Town Listers, Justices of the Peace sit with the Board of Civil Authority to hear and decide these appeals.
Tax Abatement
As members of the Board of Abatement, Justices of the Peace may forgive or reduce tax obligations in certain cases allowed by law, such as:
- Financial hardship
- Manifest error
- Other qualifying circumstances
Marriages
Justices of the Peace may solemnize marriages anywhere within Vermont.
Before a ceremony can take place, couples must obtain a valid marriage license from a Vermont Town Clerk.
Please note that performing wedding ceremonies is at the discretion of each individual Justice of the Peace.
Oaths and Notarial Acts
Justices of the Peace may:
- Administer legal oaths and oaths of office
- Serve as Notaries Public (ex officio) after filing the appropriate paperwork with the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation
Ferrisburgh Justices of the Peace
The following individuals currently serve as Justices of the Peace for the Town of Ferrisburgh:
Joseph Baker
bullbaker@comcast.net
802-747-8772
Judith Chaves
chaves@gmavt.net
802-425-3620
Art Cohn
arthurbcohn@gmail.com
802-989-8931
Lissa Gebo
coachlissagebo@gmail.com
802-877-2879
Chris Kayhart
chriskayhart@gmail.com
802-877-9922
Chris McClain
ccmcmills@gmavt.net
802-425-5851
Robert North
renorth@gmavt.net
802-877-3685
Jean Richardson
jeanrichardson43@comcast.net
802-425-3733
Silas Towler
silastowler@icloud.com
802-238-1801
Jon Taylor Vincent
jtvincent4@hotmail.com
802-999-2565
These officials are listed in the town’s municipal contact directory.
Contact Information
For additional information about Justice of the Peace services or to obtain a marriage license, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office.