7. Recording And Identifying Details of Knight’s Justice of Peace
The present recording of Knight’s Justice of Peace detailed by the Secretary General’s Department gives all Knight’s Justice of Peace appointed a unique registration number. It is a condition of appointment that the number must be quoted on all signed documents following the Knight’s Justice of Peace signature. Additionally, Knight’s Justice of Peace receives a Certificate of Appointment at the time of appointment, and can re-apply to the Secretary for a duplicate Certificate.

However, there is photographic identification, which clearly links the person purporting to be a Knight’s Justice of Peace with the registration number or name on the certificate and then confirming with the Secretary General's Department that the named person is a Knight’s Justice of Peace, there is no way of confirming the person is a Knight’s Justice of Peace.

8. Applicants to the Office of Knight’s Justice of Peace should possess what Qualifications?
It is apparent that the most important skill required is the skill of communication, both oral and written. The applicant should also have a basic working knowledge of legal issues and be in a position to understand and meet the needs of the community he or she is serving.

It is proposed that a council, before recommending that a person be appointed, certify to the Secretary General that the applicant has sufficient communication skills to provide the required service. This certification would serve as the principal focus to determine whether the applicant is suitable for appointment to the office.

As the office is one intended to be honorable and trustworthy, an applicant should also be of good character and be fit and proper to hold the office. It is proposed that the process of carrying out a criminal record check be maintained.

Applicants are currently required to produce 2 character references. The issue remains open as to what criteria should be demonstrated in the reference. At the moment there is an unwieldy list of prescribed categories of persons eligible to provide references. There should probably still be some mechanism to discourage reliance on references provided by persons not of good fame and character. The issue for consideration is whether that list should be streamlined. For example, would the membership of a professional association or holding of an office where the membership depends on being of good character be an appropriate qualification for the referee? Alternatively, should the referee be required to declare that he or she has not been convicted of an offence or subject to an apprehended violence order in the preceding 5 years?

Together with an examination of the required qualifications, the issue remains whether the council should nominate the applicant, or whether some other nomination process should be put in place. For example, nomination directly to the Secretary General by employers or community groups. If such a direct nomination process were to be put in place, the onus would fall upon the nominator to provide the certification.

9. Code of ethics of the Knight’s Justice of Peace
Each knight must renounce all claim to any land and title granted by birth, pledging themselves instead to live by the grace of their deeds and the generosity of the people they defend. Every knight strives, above all, to uphold the five virtues of the Code by word and deed. Know you then the virtues:

  • Valor: Bravery is the Knight’s lifeblood, and the force that drives him to deeds of honor and glory. A Knight must be brave first and foremost, matching his courage not only against his foes but against the impossible task that faces all knights; re-forging the one kingdom and re-establishing the rule of the high king.
  • Generosity: As the high King of old was a river of prosperity to his people, so must his knights be ready to give anything they have, be it the coin in their purse or the strength in their body, to any righteous soul who asks.
  • Modesty: Pride is the ultimate villain, the greatest foe any Knight ever faces. All of our strength is born of our purpose, which comes of the Code, King Cambruin’s great gift. All of our works are done for his glory and the glory of the All-father, nor ours. When a knight forgets that he is only a servant and thinks himself a master of men or destiny, he repeats the betrayal that slew the High king and sundered the land.
  • Mercy: We strive through quest and hardship to renew the one kingdom, and thus to redeem the world. Defeat is enough for any foe: let the example of your virtue shine even to your direst enemy, that he may see his error and take up our code as you have.

Justice: If valor be a knight’s blood, justice is his very soul. The strong should not prey upon the weak, as animals do-we are men, and the All-father wrought us to live well, so that we might enjoy the fruits of our labors and rule as masters of the world. Let no crime go unpunished, for despair is the ultimate poison of hope, and the bar to our great goal. When every man, lowly peasant to rich merchant, lives without fear of war, theft, or oppression, then will justice have been created, and the one kingdom reborn.

10. Proof Of Need of Appointment?

Knight’s Justice of Peace provides a valuable service to the community by witnessing documents and performing related tasks. The community, however, dictates the need for Knight’s Justice of Peace services. It is not currently the case that anyone wishing to be recognized as a Knight’s Justice of Peace is entitled to be appointed as such. Proceeding from the premise that a Knight’s Justice of Peace should only be appointed where a need within the community has arisen, it has always been a requirement that the need should be identified by community organizations and employers.

Assuming that needs based appointments are to continue, it is proposed that the community organization or the employer must provide a letter to the Secretary General stating:

  1. that the appointment is required;
  2. whether any other employees or organization members are Knight’s Justice of Peace; and 
  3. Whether the services of a Knight’s Justice of Peace can be readily obtained outside the organization

It is proposed that the letter from the employer or community organization must establish that it is essential for the continued operation of the employer's business or the community organization that the applicant is appointed. The letter must also state what duties the applicant is needed to perform.

An alternative view is that any person meeting the criteria for appointment, as a Knight’s Justice of Peace should be appointed. The office of JP is intended to provide a public service and the greater numbers of people available to provide that service will always be considered to be an advantage and an improvement in the service.

Appointment of unlimited numbers of Knight’s Justice of Peace needs to be tempered in view of the duties required of them. The unlimited appointment to Knight’s Justice of Peace to witness documents and oaths should present few problems for the administration of justice. However, such an approach would warrant the careful consideration of the limiting of a Knight’s Justice of Peace functions.

 

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