Justices of the Peace recognised for 50 years of service

Thursday, 7 May 2026

Justices of the Peace (JPs) from across NSW will be honoured at State Parliament today to mark half a century of community service.

165 JPs from the ‘Class of 1975’ will be recognised for volunteering their time witnessing and certifying documents for members of the public.

The youngest JP in the Class of ‘75 is 68 and the oldest is still providing JP services at the age of 93. In total, they have clocked more than 8,250 years of service since they took their oath. More than 4,800 long-serving JPs have received the certificates since they were introduced in 2012.

The milestone comes as the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) launches a new initiative to make it easier for people to access JP services.

‘JP 4 All’ aims to help the public find JPs who can offer services for people with disability via video link, disability-friendly locations and recruit JPs who can communicate using Auslan.

The initiative will be rolled out over the next month, with functionality soon to be available online so people can search for JPs who offer these accessible services.

DCJ is making ongoing improvements to help JPs get on with the job and make it easier for the public to access their services. These include:

• upgrading the JP website and JP online platform,
• delivering a campaign to recruit thousands more Aboriginal JPs, and
• creating a new online function allowing people to find a local First Nations JP.

More than 4,000 Aboriginal JPs have signed up since the recruitment campaign began in early 2024. NSW has more than 60,000 JPs overall.

To learn more about volunteering as a JP, visit the JP website.

Attorney General Michael Daley said:

“Every day, thousands of JPs across NSW JPs help people access justice in their communities and witnessing and certifying documents during significant life moments.

“JPs perform an essential public service which is why we are recruiting more and making it easier for people to access a JP where they live.

“Congratulations to the Class of ‘75 for achieving this milestone and thank you to all JPs across NSW for your service and dedication.”

Department of Communities and Justice Secretary Michael Tidball said:

“The role of a JP has always been about giving back to the community – stepping forward to help others access important services with fairness, care and integrity.

“’JP 4 All’ builds on that tradition by helping to make JP services more accessible for people with disability. These steps will help remove barriers and ensure JP services continue to serve the whole community, in ways that reflect how people live and engage now.

“Thank you to every JP for helping make justice more accessible for everyone and congratulations to the Class of ‘75 for reaching your Golden Jubilee.”