Appointments Process

The Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee was formed in 1988, and the Justices of the Peace Appointments Advisory Committee, in 2007. These committees operate independently of the Ontario Court of Justice. As a convenience, information about their procedures and their work are included here.

Policies and Process

Application Form

The Justices of the Peace Appointments Advisory Committee advertises for applications for vacant justice of the peace positions upon the request of the Attorney General.

During an advertising period, candidates must complete the prescribed Justice of the Peace Appointment Application Form and submit the form by e-mail as a PDF attachment following the detailed instructions provided on the JPAAC website. Candidates will receive an acknowledgement e-mail following the Committee’s receipt of your application.

If an applicant is selected for an interview, they will be asked to submit proof that they meet the education requirement. An applicant will be asked to e-mail a copy of all (or the highest) post-secondary degree(s) or diploma(s) or certificate(s) earned or an official transcript (together with a certified translated copy/ies, if applicable) by a specified deadline date for submission. Failure to submit proof of the education requirement will result in the cancellation of the interview. The JPAAC strongly recommends that applicants begin compiling these transcripts and proof of post-secondary education as soon as possible, but do not send them to us until requested. If an applicant completes the Equivalency portion of the application instead, they are eligible for an interview and will be exempt from providing copies of certificates and diplomas.

The only updates to an application that are permitted after the closing date of an advertised vacancy are updates to personal and/or referee contact information as well as a change in answer to question #24: Personal and Other Matters of the application form. If an applicant desires to make a change to their personal or referee contact information, the applicant must e-mail JPAAC.Info@ontario.ca with that information, specifying the name of the applicant and the specific part of the original application that is to be amended.

Candidates must provide the names and contact information of four (4) referees – two (2) professional and two (2) community service work.  No other material, including reference letters, will be considered by the Committee.

Communication with the Committee

All communication from candidates is to be made through the JPAAC Coordinator. Due to the volume of applications and queries received during an application process, communication by e-mail is preferred. The JPAAC Coordinator may be reached at JPAAC.Info@ontario.ca. It is not appropriate to contact members of the Committee at any stage of the application and evaluation process.

Review and Interview Process

Candidates may be selected for an interview based on the review and evaluation of a completed application form. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted by the Committee.

The interview panel will consist of at least three (3) Committee members – and likely more - present at the interview, including judicial members of the Ontario Court of Justice as well as public members appointed by the Attorney General of Ontario.

Language Proficiency Testing

Candidates may be required to undergo standardized language proficiency testing in the language(s) in which they indicate proficiency.

Reference Checks and Discreet Inquiries

Committee members may undertake reference checks and/or discreet inquiries as part of the process.

Classification Process

Candidates are classified as Not Recommended, Recommended or Highly Recommended.

Candidates will not be notified of their classification.

Confidentiality

A candidate’s personal information will be treated by the Committee as confidential except to the extent as is necessary for the Committee to perform its duties.

Ontario Court of Justice