Juliet ready for JP role | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

Juliet McLeod, 24, will be one of the youngest Justices of the Peace in New Zealand's history when she is sworn in on December 9.

McLeod is electorate secretary to MP Clayton Cosgrove and says she often has to turn people away who need the services of a JP or MP while Cosgrove was away.

"It's something I can do to serve the community during work time, and after work, so it ties in really well with what I am doing. There's no glory involved ? it's a service people can provide."

McLeod says her friends were a bit surprised that she even considered it.

"Perhaps more people would be interested, if they were aware that they could do it, it's a really good way of giving back to the community. I think there's a preconceived idea that it's for retirees."

Justice of the Peace public duties include taking oaths and declarations, witnessing common legal documents and deeds and issuing search warrants, and warrants to arrest.

Some of the early duties of a JP included supervising the accuracy of weights and measures and assisting people whose home has burnt down.

They used to have the authority to seize wine if they thought it was being sold at an excessive price.

There are 7500 JPs in New Zealand and they are appointed on an area's need for the service.