Duties include escorting royal visitors, leading the local magistracy as chairman of the Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace and advising on Honours nominations.

BBC: Claire Hensman to be new Lord Lieutenant of Cumbria

In Weston, though the town clerk was happy to give Mr Perry and Mr Evans their civil licence, four of the town's five justices of the peace are unwilling to solemnise a civil union.

ECONOMIST: Homosexual unions

It is necessary for new federal judges to be named only if they have left state service for a period of no less than 10 years and if they have worked for no less than 5 years as lawyers or as justices of the peace.

FORBES: Responsible Executive Power