For more than a decade, Santo Galatioto, Jr., has been working in the education industry. A social studies teacher, he has won several awards, including the Hamden High School Teacher of the Year award for the 2016-2017 school year. In addition to his work in academia, Santo Galatioto, Jr., serves as a justice of the peace in Connecticut.
In Connecticut, 169 towns and cities appoint a justice of the peace. Each municipality chooses two-thirds of their justices of the peace based on what major political party they are affiliated with. Because of this, one-third of justices of the peace belong to the Republican party and one-third belong to the Democratic party.
The remaining third of justices of the peace are appointed based on the state’s gubernatorial results, with 80 percent of justices chosen from the political party associated with candidates for governor who received at least 20 percent of the vote in the previous election. Minor party electors then select the rest of the justices.
Many justices of the peace in Connecticut serve as wedding officiants. They help couples create the weddings they want and are usually willing to travel to whichever wedding venue the couple chooses. They are allowed to officiate weddings anywhere in the state.
Justices of the peace also take depositions and acknowledgements, and administer affirmations and oaths. Further, they are responsible for notarizing signatures.
