Justice of the Peace Stamp Act
- The genesis of the office of justice of the peace was in 14th century England. British judicial needs of the time required a lower court magistrate to deal with minor cases related to affairs of the populace such as public drunkenness, squabbles between neighbors and petty theft. This established a judicial precedent that was adopted by the colonies in America, and which continues to this day.
- The designation of a justice of the peace in modern judicial procedure required that the office be recognized officially through the use of a stamp. The justice of the peace stamp was the official signature placed on court documents to signify either a ruling or other procedural processes that a justice of the peace was required to participate in, such as issuing arrest warrants and decrees of divorce. The state of Texas requirements for official designation of justice of the peace signatories are typical of most states, in that a seal or a stamp will suffice.
- The lack of a uniform set of regulations regarding acknowledgment as a justice of the peace is reflected in the variations that appear in individual state manuals and guideline codes. However, a justice of the peace stamp is generally required as being part of the commission of their duties. This is a matter of public notary, and in this sense all justices of the peace are acknowledged officially by any governmental entity with authority of that particular jurisdiction.
- Although there are no universal standards recognized by all states regarding the official registration of justice of the peace, individual states have adopted their own set of regulations pertaining to the office. The state of New Hampshire, for example, requires that a person who is commissioned to be a justice of the peace must obtain a seal for official uses. The New Hampshire's "Uniform Law on Notarial Acts" requires a justice of the peace seal to be used when making official acknowledgemnts on court documents, such as petition filings and arrest warrants.
- The state of New Hampshire is typical of most states in the nation as to the need for and use of a justice of the peace seal. These seals are not, however, issued by the state government. The common method of obtaining a seal through a private company that manufactures products such as rubber stamps and notary seals. One such company, Granite State Stamps, provides information on a product data sheet that includes a justice of the peace seal. The company makes stamps and seals as required for the commission of duties according to the design requirements submitted by the justice of the peace.