Page 45 - Keeping the Peace

Keeping the Peace – A History of Honorary Justices in Victoria 39
substantial and growing demand for DSS services throughout Victoria. It is not uncommon for tens of thousands of documents to be witnessed at DSSs each year, translating to a significant saving of police time and a great convenience to the public.
The history of the Victorian HJ has been one of adaptation to suit changing ideas of the legal profession. Once gentlemen of land, status and money, HJs now come from all walks of life. Male and female, young and old, rural and city-based, ethnically diverse, HJs play a critical role in ensuring the day-to-day decisions and administrative requirements of governments can occur smoothly and promptly. HJs remain linked to their local communities but also are treated as valued members of the state-wide justice system.
HJs have survived a major challenge presented by the professionalisation of the magistracy. This led to a re-consideration of what tasks a JP and BJ are best suited to perform within the current justice system. While their role was questioned and debated, it has taken leadership and courage to review, improve and re-define who they are, how they perform their duties and how to ensure they are the best they can possibly be. The path has not been straightforward but keeping the peace in Victoria would have been much harder without them. By celebrating their history, we can also anticipate how important HJs will be to keeping the peace in Victoria in the future.