JUSTICE OF THE PEACE VACANCIES

Ontario Court of Justice

At the request of the Attorney General and in accordance with the Justices of the Peace Act, the Justices of the Peace Appointments Advisory Committee (JPAAC) invites applications for vacant justice of the peace positions in the province of Ontario in the following court location:

Barrie (1)
Chatham (2)
Dryden (1)
Fort Frances (1)
Kenora (1)
Kenora (Indigenous – 1)
Kitchener (Indigenous – 1)
London (Indigenous – 1)
Newmarket (2)
Newmarket (Bilingual – 1)
Ottawa (Bilingual – 2)
Sault Ste. Marie (1)
Sioux Lookout (1)
Sudbury (Bilingual – 1)
Sudbury (Indigenous – 1)
Thunder Bay (1)
Thunder Bay
(Indigenous – 1)
Timmins (2)
Timmins (Bilingual – 1)
Toronto (2)
Toronto (Indigenous – 2)
Windsor (1)

A justice of the peace is an independent judicial officer who presides in court over various proceedings under federal and provincial statutes. This is a full-time appointment that requires travel within the province.

The Judiciary of the Ontario Court of Justice should reflect the diversity of the population it serves. Applications from persons belonging to diverse groups are encouraged. Bilingual and Indigenous candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. 

JPAAC is pleased to announce an upcoming Microsoft Teams Live Event on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. EST to support prospective applicants in successfully navigating the application process.

This event will feature a screening of the newly recorded 2026 webinar JPAAC Presents: Justice of the Peace Ontario – What Makes a Strong Candidate?, followed by a live Q & A session with Nicholas Charitsis, Chair of JPAAC.  Attendees will be invited to submit questions through Slido.

We look forward to your participation on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. EST.  To access the event, please click JPAAC Webinar 2026.

Before attending the 2026 Teams Live Event, you are encouraged to also watch the 2024 and 2025 webinars for valuable insights about the role of JPAAC, the application process and the justice of the peace position. The recordings, slide decks, and transcripts are available on JPAAC’s website.

Qualifications:

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications as set out in the Justices of the Peace Act. Candidates must have at least 10 years of paid or volunteer experience, and:

• have a university degree;
• have a diploma or advanced diploma granted by a college of applied arts and technology or a community college following completion of a program that is the equivalent in class hours of a full-time program or of at least four academic semesters;
• have a degree from an institution, other than a university, that is authorized to grant the degree; or meet the educational equivalency requirement set out in s.2(1.3) of the Justices of the Peace Act.

More information about the qualifications to become a justice of the peace can be found on JPAAC’s website.

Selection Criteria:

In addition to reflecting the diversity of the population in Ontario, including Indigenous and Francophone communities, applicants should also display the fundamental skills and abilities, personal characteristics and community awareness attributes set out in the JPAAC General Selection Criteria, including:

1. Proven ability and experience in making sound, practical, and timely decisions with complex factors.
2. Demonstrated a multi-year commitment to high level leadership or achievement in employment or community service, with these pursuits forming an integral part of their professional and community contributions.
3. Awareness and understanding of the breadth, depth, and commitment required for the role of a justice of the peace and the skills and abilities applicable to the vacancy.
4. Keen interest in people and humanity as demonstrated through compassion, empathy, and engagement with aspects of diversity relevant to the vacancies to which you apply.
5. Exhibits superior oral and written communication skills and an ability to present a clear, concise, and well-written application.
6. Work, volunteer, education, or other experience that is clearly relevant and transferable to the duties and responsibilities of a justice of the peace.
7. Ability and willingness to learn, substantiated through the candidate’s record of life-long learning.
8. Exemplifies a strong work ethic, with a proven reputation for reliability and preparedness.  Has the ability to work both co-operatively and independently.
9. Displays a high level of interpersonal skills, character, and integrity.
10. Bilingual ability, if applicable.
11. Possess the required level of experience required to perform the duties of a justice of the peace.

For vacancies that serve large Indigenous communities (one vacancy each in Kenora, Kitchener, London, Sudbury and Thunder Bay, and two in Toronto), candidates of Indigenous heritage with an in-depth understanding of the Indigenous communities that vacancy serves are encouraged to apply. If selected for an interview, candidates for Indigenous vacancies will be asked to submit documentation to support their Indigenous self-identification, if applicable.

Candidates who indicate on the application form that they are able to conduct proceedings in French or who apply to a designated bilingual vacancy, will be required to complete JPAAC’s customized French language proficiency test, in addition to demonstrating a high degree of proficiency in English. To satisfy JPAAC’s bilingual language proficiency requirement, candidates must achieve a Superior level of French language proficiency. Test results are valid for two years.

To apply for an appointment as a justice of the peace, refer to the current application form and instructions for completion and submission here.

This website also provides information about the advertised vacancies, the JPAAC process and the role of the justice of the peace in Ontario. Applicants should also review the JPAAC Frequently Asked Questions. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Tuesday, January 5, 2027. Late applications will NOT be accepted.

To be informed about future vacancies, please register at: Subscribe to Vacancy Notifications (via e-mail).