What Does a Louisiana Justice of the Peace Do?

Many people have heard the title Justice of the Peace, but may not know exactly what the office does or how it serves the community.

In Louisiana, a Justice of the Peace is an elected judicial officer who serves a local justice of the peace court. These courts have limited jurisdiction and are designed to provide citizens with a local, accessible place to resolve certain legal matters.

A Local Court for Everyday Matters

Justice of the Peace courts generally handle certain civil disputes involving smaller amounts of money, subject to the jurisdiction and limits established by Louisiana law.

Depending on the circumstances, matters brought before a Justice of the Peace may include:

●Disputes involving money or property within the court’s jurisdiction

●Certain landlord-tenant matters, including evictions

●Small claims and other civil disputes

●Issuing citations, summonses, subpoenas, and other court documents when authorized by law

●Conducting hearings and rendering judgments in matters properly before the court

A Justice of the Peace must listen to the facts presented by both sides, apply Louisiana law, maintain proper court records, and make decisions fairly and impartially.

Evictions and Landlord-Tenant Matters

One of the responsibilities people commonly associate with Justice of the Peace courts is eviction proceedings.

When an eviction matter falls within the court’s jurisdiction, the Justice of the Peace conducts the proceeding according to Louisiana law. The role of the judge is not to favor the landlord or the tenant, but to provide both parties an opportunity to be heard and then apply the law to the facts of the case.

Small Claims and Civil Disputes

Justice of the Peace courts can also provide a practical forum for resolving certain smaller civil disputes, generally claims under $5,000, without requiring citizens to begin their case in a larger district court.

Although the amounts involved may be smaller than cases heard in other courts, the responsibility of the judge is still significant. A judgment can have real consequences for the people involved, which makes fairness, patience, preparation, and respect for the law essential.

Performing Marriage Ceremonies

Louisiana Justices of the Peace are also authorized to perform marriage ceremonies.

For many residents, this is one of the happiest ways they will ever interact with their local Justice of the Peace. It also reflects the unique nature of the office: a Justice of the Peace serves the community both inside and outside the courtroom.

An Elected Judicial Office

A Justice of the Peace is not simply a community mediator or local government representative. It is a judicial office.

That distinction matters.

When acting as a judge, a Justice of the Peace has a responsibility to remain impartial, follow the law, protect due process, maintain the dignity of the court, and treat every person who appears before the court with fairness and respect.

The job is not to decide cases based on personal relationships, popularity, politics, or who someone knows. The responsibility is to hear the matter presented and apply the law fairly.

Working With the Constable

Each Justice of the Peace court also works with an elected Constable.

While the Justice of the Peace performs the judicial function of the court, the Constable generally performs duties associated with serving and executing lawful orders and process of the court.

Together, these offices help provide a local judicial system that is accessible to the people of the district.

Why the Office Matters

For someone appearing in court, even a relatively small dispute may be extremely important.

It could involve someone’s home, unpaid money, damaged property, a disagreement between neighbors, or another issue affecting everyday life.

That is why a Justice of the Peace should bring fairness, integrity, patience, sound judgment, and respect for every person into the courtroom.

A Justice of the Peace may serve a relatively small geographic district, but the decisions made by that court can have a very real impact on the people who live there.

Local Justice. Fair Treatment. Respect for the Law.

The Justice of the Peace court exists to provide citizens with an accessible local court for matters entrusted to it under Louisiana law—and to ensure that those matters are handled fairly, efficiently, and with respect for everyone involved.

Why Experience Matters

Experience. Judgment. Service.

A Justice of the Peace is called upon to listen carefully, understand the facts, apply the law, maintain an orderly court, and treat every person with fairness and respect.

Those responsibilities require more than simply knowing the duties listed in a statute. They requirejudgment, patience, professionalism, and real-world experience working with people and difficult situations.

I believe my years of service to St. Charles Parish, combined with my professional experience in real estate, property management, notarial work, housing, and local government, have prepared me to serve as your Justice of the Peace.

Nearly a Decade of Quasi-Judicial Experience

I served for nearly ten years on theSt. Charles Parish Zoning Board of Adjustment, including four years as Chairman.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment requires its members to hear matters presented by citizens, consider testimony and evidence, understand applicable rules and ordinances, and make decisions that can directly affect people’s property.

As Chairman, I was also responsible for helping conduct public hearings in an orderly and respectful manner.

That experience reinforced something I believe is essential for any judicial officer:every person deserves the opportunity to be heard, and every decision should be based on the facts and the law—not personalities or politics.

Experience in Housing and Property Matters

I have served as Chairman of the St. Charles Parish Housing Authority since 2016.

That service has given me years of experience with issues involving housing, administration, public responsibility, policies, and the practical realities that affect property owners and residents.

Because Justice of the Peace courts may hear certain landlord-tenant and eviction matters, familiarity with housing and property issues provides valuable perspective.

But perspective must never become favoritism.

Whether someone appearing before the court is a landlord, tenant, business owner, homeowner, contractor, or neighbor,everyone should enter the courtroom on equal footing.

A Career in Real Estate and Property Management

As aLouisiana real estate broker and property manager, I have spent years working with contracts, leases, property transactions, documentation, deadlines, and disputes.

That experience has taught me the importance of reading documents carefully, asking the right questions, keeping accurate records, and understanding that seemingly small details can have significant consequences.

It has also taught me that disagreements involving property and money are often deeply personal to the people involved.

A good judge should understand that while a case may be one item on a court docket, it may be one of the most important things happening in the lives of the people standing before the court.

Experience as a Louisiana Notary Public

My service as a Louisiana Notary Public has also required careful attention to legal documents, identities, signatures, records, and proper procedure.

That responsibility has reinforced the importance of accuracy and attention to detail—qualities that are especially important in a court of law.

Decades of Community Service

My connection to St. Charles Parish goes well beyond my professional career.

For many years, I have served in civic, governmental, charitable, church, and community leadership roles. I served as president of my local civic association from 2011 through 2025 and have worked alongside residents, businesses, community organizations, and public officials on issues affecting our parish.

These experiences have allowed me to meet people from many different backgrounds and hear many different points of view.

You don’t have to agree with someone to listen to them.

You don’t have to know someone personally to treat them with dignity.

And you don’t have to share someone’s perspective to give them a fair hearing.

Those principles matter in community leadership—and they matter even more in a courtroom.

The Justice of the Peace Should Be Fair to Everyone

If elected Justice of the Peace, I will not enter the courtroom representing landlords or tenants, Republicans or Democrats, businesses or individuals, friends or strangers.

I will enter the courtroom as the judge.

Every person who comes before the court deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

Every side deserves to be heard.

Every case deserves careful consideration.

And every decision should be based upon the facts presented and the law that applies.

That is the standard I believe the people of our community should expect from their Justice of the Peace.

Prepared to Serve

My experience has taught me how to lead meetings, listen to competing arguments, review documents, deal with property and housing matters, maintain records, work with the public, and make difficult decisions.

But experience alone isn’t enough.

A Justice of the Peace must also have the temperament to listen, the humility to keep learning, the courage to make difficult decisions, and the integrity to apply the law fairly regardless of who is standing in the courtroom.

That’s the kind of Justice of the Peace I intend to be.

Webb Jay for Justice of the Peace

Experienced. Accessible. Fair. Ready to Serve.