Justices of the peace are judges who handle both civil and criminal cases, including small claims court, justice court, and administrative hearings. In practical terms, these are lawsuits over debts, evictions, car accidents, unlawful towing, and property.

Their criminal workload involves disposing of all class C criminal misdemeanor complaints, such as traffic citations, issuance of bad check, and others. These cases involve payment, setting contested cases for trial, and pretrial hearings with the county prosecutor.

Other duties include presiding over peace bond hearings, reviewing applications for mental health or chemically dependent commitments, conducting compulsory school attendance trials, and giving warnings to juveniles required by law. They issue warrants for and conduct hearings concerning seizure and disposition of cruelly treated animals. Most justices of the peace perform marriage ceremonies as well.

In Vermont, justices of the peace are local elected officials with a variety of responsibilities, including some judicial functions. They may serve on the board of civil authority, assist in the administration of elections, and serve on tax abatement and appeal committees. Their judicial role is limited compared to some other states; they do not handle criminal cases but may officiate over small claims cases up to a certain monetary limit. Justices of the peace in Vermont also have the authority to solemnize marriages, administer oaths, and take depositions. The specific duties and powers of justices of the peace can vary by town, and they are not considered full-time judges. Vermont does not have justice courts as described in the topic; instead, small claims matters are typically handled in the Superior Court. Criminal misdemeanors are generally dealt with by state or municipal court judges, not justices of the peace.